to fire
- verb
- /faɪər/
- Specialized
- You know a kiln this size, needs at least eight men to fire it, 12 would be better.
- fired pots
- fired clay
- fired vessels
Examples
-
She even fired her own tiles in a homemade kiln.
-
The color of the fired clay is important; a clear color is preferred to a muddied one.
Academic text (2007) -
How in the world are you gonna mold, dry and fire all that brick, in eight weeks?
-
- It's a big job to build and fire kiln.
-
Once dry, the pots are fired in huge communal firings of as many as 800 pieces at a time.
Academic text (2007) -
After shaping, she dries them in the shade for several days, then fires them in a low-temperature kiln.
Academic text (2003) -
Around 28,000 years ago, its occupants discovered how to fire tiny clay figurines of humans and animals in a kiln.
Academic text (2002) -
She decided to fire her pottery in the kiln to make it strong and durable.
-
After shaping the clay, he placed it in the kiln to fire it with the perfect glaze.
-
The artist will fire the ceramic pieces at a high temperature for optimal results.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
Make someone do what they promised or take responsibility by pressuring them
- Informal
To make a bad situation worse by saying or doing something that makes people angrier
Save someone from a difficult situation at the last moment
- Informal
Strong energy and passion that continue even when someone gets older
To pay attention to something unimportant instead of the main task
- Informal
Escaping a bad situation and ending in a much worse one
- Archaic
To cause great excitement or a big effect, often said to mean something is not impressive
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
A group that sends people to put out fires and help in emergencies in the local area
A staircase or metal ladder on the outside of a building used to get out during a fire
- Formal
A person who makes sure buildings are safe from fire, investigates fires, and enforces fire safety rules
A practice where people leave a building to be safe during a fire or other emergency
- Specialized
Intense gunfire aimed near an enemy to keep them from shooting back while friendly troops move
- Formal
A set of rules made by authorities about buildings to prevent fires and keep people safe
- Informal
A very difficult test that shows if someone can do a job under pressure
- Specialized
A slow burn in the layer of dead leaves and wood under the soil, often without visible flames
- Specialized
Gunfire from the ground aimed at enemy planes to stop an air attack
- Specialized
Shooting at a target you cannot see using calculations or people who watch
- US
A large fast fire that burns across dry grassland and spreads quickly in strong wind
- Specialized
Continuous gunfire aimed at an enemy to stop them firing or moving so friendly troops can advance
- Specialized
A system that uses radio waves to aim and fire weapons at military targets
- Specialized
Gunfire by other soldiers or tanks that protects attacking soldiers from the enemy
- Specialized
A fast forest fire that moves through the tops of trees, often moving ahead of the fire on the ground
- Specialized
Gunfire that goes along the length of a line of soldiers, causing heavy damage
- Specialized
A serious disease caused by bacteria that makes apple and pear shoots and flowers turn black and die
- Specialized
A system that finds and aims weapons at military targets on ships or tanks
- Specialized
A blue glow that appears on pointed objects like ship masts or airplane wings during thunderstorms
- Specialized
Gunfire aimed near friendly troops to protect them from immediate enemy threats
- Specialized
Fire from guns aimed at enemy mortar positions to destroy or stop them
- Specialized
A planned heavy attack with artillery to weaken enemy forces before an assault
- Specialized
Fire from heavy guns at enemy targets far behind friendly troops to disrupt supplies and reinforcements
How Hot
Surface Forms
Etymology
Fire for pottery comes from fyr meaning 'flame' and means to heat clay in a kiln so it becomes hard. So when you 'fire' a pot you put it in strong heat to finish it.