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Glite Dictionary
grassfire

grassfire

5.1
A fire that burns dry grass and spreads across open land
  • noun
  • /ˈɡræsˌfaɪər/
translation icon : incendio de hierba
  • The firefighters were called to put out a grassfire near the highway.

Examples

  • Strong winds made the grassfire spread quickly across the open field.

  • The dry conditions made the area vulnerable to a grassfire, threatening nearby homes.

  • Last summer, a large grassfire threatened several homes at the edge of town.

  • The grassfire spread quickly across the field.

  • Many grassfires occur during the dry season.

  • Firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the grassfire that spread rapidly across the prairie.

  • A sudden gust of wind ignited a grassfire in the field, forcing residents to evacuate.

Synonyms

wildfire
vsgrassfire
89 3.0

A large uncontrolled fire that quickly spreads through forests or fields

is usually smaller and limited to grass-covered areas rather than vast regions
brush fire
vsgrassfire
  • US
5 4.1

A small uncontrolled fire that burns bushes and shrubs

is similar but occurs in grassy areas rather than among shrubs
bushfire
vsgrassfire
  • Australian
4 3.2

A large fire that is out of control in wild areas like forests or grasslands

focuses specifically on fires in grass-covered places rather than all wild vegetation
prairie fire
vsgrassfire
  • US
1 7.3

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

is the same but applies to grass areas generally rather than wide plains

How Dangerous

wildfire
89 3.0
grassfire
5.1
brush fire
  • US
5 4.1
to backfire
  • Specialized
7.4

Surface Forms

grassfire singular
grassfires plural

Morphology

grassfire = grass + fire (transparent) = grass + fire

A literal compound of 'grass' + 'fire' meaning a fire occurring in grass; learners who know the components can infer the sense.

Etymology

The word grassfire is made from grass ('grass') and fire ('fire'), so it creates the image of flames moving through a field. That's why a grassfire means a fire that is out of control and can spread quickly across open land, much like a wildfire.