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Definition of 'fir'

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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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

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

fir in American English 2

firkin

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

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

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

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

tree, wood

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Question: 1

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Score: 0 / 5

Which type of wood am I?

a hard teaklike wood obtained from tropical African trees of the leguminous genus Pericopsis

afrormosia brazil rosewood

Which type of wood am I?

the hard close-grained yellow wood of the box tree, used to make tool handles, small turned or carved articles, etc

ash boxwood toon

Which type of wood am I?

the wood of the eucalyptus tree

baywood gumtree hardwood

Which type of wood am I?

the wood used in the construction of Noah's ark, thought to be a type of cypress (Genesis 6:14)

bulletwood gopher wood rosewood

Which type of wood am I?

the close-grained durable wood of any of these trees, used for tool handles, etc

ash boxwood maple

Your score:

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fir

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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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pidgin or pigeon?

Which version is correct?

They could only speak pidgin English. They could only speak pigeon English.

coarse or course?

Which version is correct?

I'd love to take a coarse in French literature. I'd love to take a course in French literature.

desert or dessert?

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The vehicles have been modified to suit conditions in the desert. The vehicles have been modified to suit conditions in the dessert.

hear or here?

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hear

here

I'd love to it played by a professional orchestra.

knead or need?

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I knead to make a phone call. I need to make a phone call.

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Sep 09, 2021

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bibliothecary

a librarian

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Scrabble score
for 'fir':
6

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fantastic atmosphere or poisonous atmosphere?

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fantastic atmosphere

poisonous atmosphere

With more seats made available, it should be a .

attend court or reach court?

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reach court

attend court

The trial may take more than a year to .

field questions or raise questions?

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raise questions

field questions

The proposals also about when workers should retire.

draft proposal or takeover proposal?

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takeover proposal

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The board is expected to meet today to consider a formal .

slurred speech or victory speech?

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victory speech

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He paid tribute to her in a very emotional .

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