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Definition of 'fir'

Word Frequency

fir

(fɜːʳ )

Word forms: plural firs

variable noun

A fir or a fir tree is a tall evergreen tree that has thin needle-like leaves.

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

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Word Frequency

fir in British English

(fɜː )

noun

1.

any pyramidal coniferous tree of the N temperate genus Abies, having single needle-like leaves and erect cones: family Pinaceae

See also red fir, silver fir, balsam fir

2.

any of various other trees of the family Pinaceae, such as the Douglas fir

3.

the wood of any of these trees

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Word origin

Old English furh; related to Old Norse fura, Old High German foraha fir, Latin quercus oak

Word Frequency

fir in American English 1

(fɜr )

noun

1.

any of a genus (Abies) of cone-bearing evergreen trees of the pine family, having flattened needles and upright cones whose scales fall off at maturity

2.

any of various other coniferous trees, as the Douglas fir

3.

the wood of any of these trees

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Derived forms

firry (ˈfirry)

adjective

Word origin

ME firre < OE fyrh, akin to Ger föhre < IE base *perkwus, name of the tree, oak > L quercus, oak

Word Frequency

fir in American English 2

firkin

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Word Frequency

fir in American English

(fɜːr)

noun

1.

any coniferous tree belonging to the genus Abies, of the pine family, characterized by its pyramidal style of growth, flat needles, and erect cones

2.

the wood of such a tree

Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Word origin

[1250–1300; ME firre, OE fyrh; c. OS furie; akin to OE furh- (in fuhrwudu pine), ON fura fir, L quercus oak (‹ *perkwu-)]

Examples of 'fir' in a sentence
fir

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Wire together dried fruit and fir cones and use to fill any gaps.You cannot therefore simply complain that the fir tree blocks the light to your garden or patio.We stare through the drizzle at a scarred fir tree.The fir trees of the mobile forest lay flattened and scorched.It was a frosty night and fir trees sparkled with a dusting of snow.Holly or branches from fir trees work best but any greenery will do.He had seen the dark shapes of the fir trees only a moment or so before hitting them.People who live near a fir wood can sometimes hear a weird cooing coming from it in the middle of the night.We bounced between fir trees, then burst out on to the shores of a lake.The darling yellow trumpets are thrusting up in fir and birch woods across Scotland for our delight.

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Word lists with
fir

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Question: 1

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Which type of wood am I?

a small evergreen malvaceous tree, Hoheria populnea, of New Zealand. Its wood is used in furniture making and the tough bark for making cord

calamander ribbonwood walnut

Which type of wood am I?

the wood of any of these trees, used for lumber and as a source of wood pulp

hemlock oak sandalwood

Which type of wood am I?

the wood of any of these trees

hardwood tamarack yellowwood

Which type of wood am I?

the wood of this tree, used for tool handles, fuel, etc

ash boxwood shagbark

Which type of wood am I?

any of various tropical African or Asian leguminous trees of the genus Pterocarpus that have reddish wood

ebony padauk rosewood

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In other languages
fir

British English: fir /fɜː/ NOUN

A fir is a tall evergreen tree that has thin needle-like leaves.

American English: fir /ˈfɜr/
Brazilian Portuguese: abeto
Chinese: 枞树
European Spanish: abeto
French: sapin
German: Tanne
Italian: abete
Japanese: モミ
Korean: 전나무
European Portuguese: abeto
Latin American Spanish: abeto
Thai: ต้นสน

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Definition of fir from the Collins English Dictionary

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Paying him a few compliments could cut the dividends. Paying him a few compliments could reap dividends.

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One couple spent £2 million on lawyers' fees in a divorce battle. One couple spent £2 million on lawyers' fees in a leadership battle.

mathematical formula or successful formula?

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deny treatment or improve treatments?

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improve treatments

deny treatment

Researchers will help us better understand the causes and .

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May 28, 2021

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An amnesty is an official pardon granted to a group of prisoners by the state.

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Scrabble score
for 'fir':
6

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classic or classical?

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