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fire truck

fire truck

30 1.8
A big vehicle that carries firefighters and tools to put out fires
  • noun
  • /ˈfaɪər trʌk/
  • US
translation icon : camión de bomberos
  • Jacob and Mark woke to the sound of a fire truck clanging wildly past the Thieste building.
  • fire truck and ambulances
  • fire truck and police
  • cars and fire trucks

And, you know, they'll take potshots and stuff at a fire truck going down the street or a police car.

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Examples

  • During the parade, the fire truck showcased its ladders and hoses to the excited crowd.

  • From the distance, a long siren was heard as another fire truck came into sight.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Did you ever drive a fire truck?

  • We have to get our fire truck there and the emergency vehicles.

  • Hey, what's that fire truck doing out there?

  • Ah, all kids love fire trucks, huh?

  • Fire trucks are on the way.

  • Police cars line the street along with a huge fire truck and several ambulances.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The place was surrounded by fire trucks, police cars, and the bomb-squad van.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • In the distance, sirens from approaching police and fire trucks are heard.

    Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

fire engine
vsfire truck
12 1.6

A large vehicle that carries firefighters and tools to fight fires

is the everyday term for that same general emergency vehicle
firetruck
vsfire truck
  • US
4 1.4

A large truck that carries firefighters and water to a fire

is the two-word or alternative written form used in common speech
pumper
vsfire truck
  • Specialized
2 5.5

A fire engine with a strong pump that supplies water to fight fires

is the broader vehicle term not limited to water delivery alone
ladder truck
vsfire truck
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A fire engine with a long ladder that stretches to reach high places and rescue people

is the more general vehicle term that does many firefighting tasks
aerial ladder truck
vsfire truck
  • Specialized
7.0

A fire engine with a long ladder that can extend to reach high places for fighting fires or rescuing people

is the general vehicle term not focused on high reach equipment

Surface Forms

fire truck singular
fire trucks plural

Morphology

fire + truck

The meaning is compositionally derived from 'fire' (the phenomenon being fought) + 'truck' (a large vehicle): it denotes a vehicle for fighting fires, following a standard noun-noun compound pattern. This construction is cross-linguistically common and transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The name fire truck shows a simple picture: a big truck that goes to a fire carrying water and tools. That's why 'fire truck' means a large vehicle that brings firefighters and equipment 'to fight fires'.