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Definition of 'fir'

Word Frequency

fir

(fɜr )

Word forms: 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

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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-)]

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

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

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

Which tree am I?

a small widely cultivated Asian rosaceous tree, Cydonia oblonga, with pinkish-white flowers and edible pear-shaped fruits

apple pear quince

Which tree am I?

any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula, having thin peeling bark

alder birch juniper

Which tree am I?

any of various trees or shrubs of the widely distributed genus Ilex, such as the holly and inkberry: family Aquifoliaceae

ilex silky oak willow

Which tree am I?

any moraceous tree or shrub of the tropical and subtropical genus Ficus, in which the flowers are borne inside a pear-shaped receptacle

acacia citrus fig

Which tree am I?

a large Australian fig tree, Ficus macrophylla, having glossy leaves and smooth bark

coolabah Moreton Bay fig silky oak

Your score:

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fir

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In other languages
fir

British English: fir NOUN

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

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

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Nearby words of
fir

Related terms of
fir

Source

Definition of fir from the Collins English Dictionary

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Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

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Score: 0 / 5

wail or whale?

Which version is correct?

The wail of bagpipes could be heard in the distance. The whale of bagpipes could be heard in the distance.

hair or hare?

Which version is correct?

Outside my window sat a huge brown hair. Outside my window sat a huge brown hare.

suite or sweet?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

suite

sweet

We moved into a new of offices.

whine or wine?

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whine

wine

The dog started to in the background.

creak or creek?

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creak

creek

The door was pulled open with a .

Your score:

Oct 10, 2020

Word of the day

anadromous

(of fishes such as the salmon ) migrating up rivers from the sea in order to breed

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Scrabble score
for 'fir':
6

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

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Score: 0 / 5

marshal or martial?

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marshal

martial

A fire appeared at our door.

their or they're?

Which version is correct?

Some people eat when their feeling low. Some people eat when they're feeling low.

steal or steel?

Which version is correct?

Sometimes she had to steal to eat. Sometimes she had to steel to eat.

boar or bore?

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bore

boar

It’s such a to be sick.

stationary or stationery?

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stationery

stationary

She took a sheet of from the drawer.

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