Skip to main content
fire

fire

49 9.9
An ancient element thought to be hot and dry
  • noun
  • /faɪər/
  • Archaic
: fuego
  • Well, for centuries, deep thinkers thought of earth, air, fire, and water as the fundamental elements.
  • the element fire
  • fire and earth
  • fire and water

So the four elements, earth, air, fire and water, right?

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The impact of a potential fire on equipment located in a key area of the plant.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Fire was the first thing man used to see at night.

  • So for example, they took wind, fire, water and air.

  • No earth, no water, no fire, no sun, no warmth, no food, no metabolism.

  • When you're studying the elements, don't forget about fire, water, earth, and air.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And that night, in an ancient ceremony of fire and drums, the tribal shaman presented the boy with a ring of great significance.

  • Prometheus stole the mechanical arts of Hephaestus and Athena, and fire, and gave them to man.

    Academic text (1999)
  • In ancient philosophy, fire was considered one of the four basic elements that made up the universe.

  • The ancient Greeks identified fire as a fundamental element associated with heat and dryness.

  • Philosophers viewed fire as a critical element alongside earth, air, and water in their theories of nature.

Idioms

483 1.0

Burning with flames and smoke

under fire
  • Literature
64 5.0

Receiving strong criticism or being shot at, often in public

on fire
  • Informal
43 4.7

Doing something very well and with great success

26 5.8

To take a big risk that can cause harm

12 5.3

To use the same harsh methods as someone who attacks you

Make someone do what they promised or take responsibility by pressuring them

8 7.1

To have a big success that many people notice

6 5.9

To make a bad situation worse by saying or doing something that makes people angrier

6 5.7

Work at the best possible level

5 8.9

A shouted warning that a blast or sudden danger is about to happen

4 6.6

A strong wish to succeed that makes you try very hard

If there are signs of a problem, it is probably true

ball of fire
  • Informal
3 5.4

A person who is very energetic and enthusiastic

A strong inner feeling that makes someone want to do something

Escaping a bad situation and ending in a much worse one

1 9.9

A short shout that shows surprise or strong excitement

Make a bad situation worse by what you say or do

To start a project or activity

1 8.9

Strong energy and passion that continue even when someone gets older

Save someone from a difficult situation at the last moment

1 7.3

To make a bad situation worse by saying or doing something

To cause great excitement or a big effect, often said to mean something is not impressive

To pay attention to something unimportant instead of the main task

Compounds

155 4.1

An agreement between fighting sides to stop fighting, often to allow peace talks

145 1.1

A group that sends people to put out fires and help in emergencies in the local area

55 2.7

A staircase or metal ladder on the outside of a building used to get out during a fire

40 1.0

A loud signal that warns people there is a fire or smoke

39 1.8

A big vehicle that carries firefighters and tools to put out fires

A portable metal can you use to spray chemicals to put out small fires

29 1.8

A large uncontrolled burning of trees in a forest that causes much damage

28 1.3

A building where firefighters and fire engines stay and go to fires

friendly fire
  • Specialized
26 6.5

Accidental attack that injures your own soldiers or allies

26 2.9

A person in charge of firefighters and their work in a city or town

22 2.3

A large strong hose that firefighters use to carry water to put out fires

21 5.3

A situation where someone risks being harmed or strongly criticized

19 2.1

A tall pipe in the street with a tap for firefighters to get water

19 1.6

A large vehicle that carries firefighters and tools to fight fires

19 2.4

A practice where people leave a building to be safe during a fire or other emergency

fire marshal
  • Formal
18 3.8

A person who makes sure buildings are safe from fire, investigates fires, and enforces fire safety rules

Able to blow fire from the mouth like a dragon

13 4.4

Certain to work and bring success

covering fire
  • Specialized
12 7.7

Intense gunfire aimed near an enemy to keep them from shooting back while friendly troops move

11 7.9

Soldiers fire explosive shells in a high arc at a target from the ground

11 2.9

An outdoor place that holds a fire for warmth or cooking

artillery fire
  • Specialized
11 6.9

A heavy attack by military guns and cannons on enemy positions

10 4.2

People sell goods at very low prices because they must sell quickly

10 3.6

A small reddish-brown insect that stings and causes a burning pain

Strong religious warnings about hell and God's punishment

line of fire
  • Specialized
8 5.5

The path a bullet or other shot follows after being fired

7 3.2

A door that stops fire and smoke from spreading between parts of a building

fire code
  • Formal
7 3.4

A set of rules made by authorities about buildings to prevent fires and keep people safe

6 4.1

A small uncontrolled fire that burns bushes and shrubs

6 2.3

A team of people who put out flames and help in emergencies

fire control
  • Specialized
6 6.8

To prepare and direct large guns to hit a target in battle

fire-retardant
  • Specialized
6 4.4

Not easy to burn because it has a special treatment

hair-on-fire
  • Informal
5 9.1

People act in a panic and work very quickly to solve a problem

5 8.6

A performer who puts fire into their mouth to entertain people

field of fire
  • Specialized
5 8.8

The area a gun can hit from one position

trial by fire
  • Informal
4 7.4

A very difficult test that shows if someone can do a job under pressure

fire insurance
  • Specialized
4 3.2

A plan that helps pay to repair or rebuild property after a fire

4 4.9

Loud shots from large guns used in an attack

4 4.2

A fire lit to attract attention and show where people are

A performer who blows fuel from the mouth to make a flame

hostile fire
  • Specialized
4 7.0

An attack in which an enemy shoots at people

3 3.5

A group of trained people who fight fires in a local area

3 9.9

A burning liquid used as a weapon by the Byzantine navy that burns on water

3 2.0

A bell that rings to warn people about a fire

red fire
  • Specialized
2 7.4

A bright red flame that comes from burning chemicals and people use in fireworks and flares

2 7.1

Fire from several weapons aimed together at one target

direct fire
  • Specialized
2 7.7

Shooting at a target you can see with weapons like a tank or rifle

2 7.3

A large fast fire that burns across dry grassland and spreads quickly in strong wind

call fire
  • Specialized
2 9.6

Artillery or aircraft attack a specific target after a unit asks for it

2 5.4

A tall tower in a forest where a person looks for smoke to find fires

A sudden strong flash of flames or energy that happens quickly

2 3.1

A fire made by burning garbage outside

ground fire
  • Specialized
2 7.1

A slow burn in the layer of dead leaves and wood under the soil, often without visible flames

fire hose
  • Informal
2 6.1

A very large fast flow of questions or messages that is hard to handle

baptism of fire
  • Informal
2 7.7

A first hard experience that tests someone's ability and courage

suppressive fire
  • Specialized
2 7.8

Continuous gunfire aimed at an enemy to stop them firing or moving so friendly troops can advance

antiaircraft fire
  • Specialized
2 5.9

Gunfire from the ground aimed at enemy planes to stop an air attack

indirect fire
  • Specialized
1 8.2

Shooting at a target you cannot see using calculations or people who watch

1 2.3

A very large bright fire that burns strongly

St. Elmo's fire
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A blue glow that appears on pointed objects like ship masts or airplane wings during thunderstorms

fire hall
  • Canadian
1 2.3

A building where firefighters keep equipment, work, and hold community events

fire watching
  • Archaic
1 8.8

An activity of watching for and putting out small fires during a war

fire control system
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A system that finds and aims weapons at military targets on ships or tanks

barrage fire
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A long heavy stream of shots from large guns across a wide area to hit many places

1 3.1

A small heater that plugs into the wall and looks like a fireplace

fire control radar
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A system that uses radio waves to aim and fire weapons at military targets

supporting fire
  • Specialized
1 7.0

Gunfire by other soldiers or tanks that protects attacking soldiers from the enemy

1 3.5

A screen placed in front of an open fire to stop sparks from flying into the room

1 6.0

A deep hole at a volcano with hot, glowing lava at the bottom

1 5.3

A person who watches over a forest or park to prevent and fight fires

beacon fire
  • Archaic
1 8.3

A fire lit on a hill or tower to signal people far away

watch fire
  • Archaic
1 8.2

A fire kept burning at night to signal people far away

1 6.0

A metal tool like a poker or tongs that you use to tend a fire in a fireplace

Surface Forms

fire singular
fires plural

Etymology

Fire is the same old word fyr meaning 'flame', and in ancient thought people called fire one of the basic parts of the world because it is so warm and active. So in old ideas, 'fire' was a basic element linked to heat and change.