English Dictionary

Definition of “firing”

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firing (ˈfaɪərɪŋPronunciation for firing) 

Definitions

noun

  1. the process of baking ceramics, etc, in a kiln or furnace  ⇒ a second firing 
  2. the act of stoking a fire or furnace
  3. a discharge of a firearm
  4. something used as fuel, such as coal or wood
  5. US a scorching of plants, as a result of disease, drought, or heat

fire (faɪəPronunciation for fire) 

Definitions

noun

  1. the state of combustion in which inflammable material burns, producing heat, flames, and often smoke
    1. a mass of burning coal, wood, etc, used esp in a hearth to heat a room
    2. ((in combination)  ⇒ firewood firelighter 
  3. a destructive conflagration, as of a forest, building, etc
  4. a device for heating a room, etc
  5. something resembling a fire in light or brilliance  ⇒ a diamond's fire 
  6. a flash or spark of or as if of fire
    1. the act of discharging weapons, artillery, etc
    2. the shells, etc, fired
  8. a burst or rapid volley  ⇒ a fire of questions 
  9. intense passion; ardour
  10. liveliness, as of imagination, thought, etc
  11. a burning sensation sometimes produced by drinking strong alcoholic liquor
  12. fever and inflammation
  13. a severe trial or torment (esp in the phrase go through fire and water)
  14. See catch fire
  15. See draw someone's fire
  16. See hang fire
  17. See no smoke without fire
  18. See on fire
  19. See open fire
  20. See play with fire
  21. See set fire to
  22. See set the world on fire
  23. See under fire
  24. (modifier) astrology of or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius Compare earth (sense 10) , air (sense 20) , water (sense 12)

verb

  1. to discharge (a firearm or projectile) or (of a firearm, etc) to be discharged
  2. to detonate (an explosive charge or device) or (of such a charge or device) to be detonated
  3. (tr) informal to dismiss from employment
  4. (tr) ceramics to bake in a kiln to harden the clay, fix the glaze, etc
  5. to kindle or be kindled; ignite
  6. (tr) to provide with fuel  ⇒ oil fires the heating system 
  7. (intr) to tend a fire
  8. (tr) to subject to heat
  9. (tr) to heat slowly so as to dry
  10. (tr) to arouse to strong emotion
  11. to glow or cause to glow
  12. (intr) (of an internal-combustion engine) to ignite
  13. (intr) (of grain) to become blotchy or yellow before maturity
  14. veterinary science another word for cauterize
  15. (intr) Australian informal (of a sportsman, etc) to play well or with enthusiasm

sentence substitute

  1. a cry to warn others of a fire
  2. the order to begin firing a gun, artillery, etc

Alternative Forms

ˈfireable adjective ˈfireless adjective ˈfirer noun

Word Origin

Old English fӯr ; related to Old Saxon fiur , Old Norse fūrr , Old High German fūir , Greek pur

Quotations

  • "Fight fire with fire"
  • "Fire is a good servant but a bad master"
  • "If you play with fire you get burnt"
  • "Out of the frying pan, into the fire"

Usage examples

  • The driver took a firing position low beside the front wheel.
    Seymour, Gerald, Field of Blood (1990)
  • Kramer, the 69-year-old former tight end on Vince Lombardi's famous Packer sweep, sounds like a firing range.
    Maxim (2005)
  • You also get to fire coaches because firing the head coach has become the hackneyed solution of the day.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • But the Israeli presence failed to stop Palestinians from firing a mortar bomb at an empty community centre in Gilo.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Flares also arrived on deck but no one immediately available was experienced in firing them.
    Rob Mundle, FATAL STORM (2001)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'F'

Related Terms

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