Definition of Fire

Noun: fire fI(-u)r

The event of something burning (often destructive)
"they lost everything in the fire"
The act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
"hold your fire until you can see the whites of their eyes"; "they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire";
- firing
The process of combustion of flammable materials; produces heat, light, and (often) smoke
"fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries";
- flame, flaming
A fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning
"they sat by the fire and talked"
Feelings of great warmth and intensity
- ardor [US], ardour [Brit, Cdn], fervor [US], fervour [Brit, Cdn], fervency, fervidness
Fuel that is burning and is used as a means for cooking
"put the kettle on the fire"; "barbecue over an open fire"
A severe trial
"he went through fire and damnation"
Intense adverse criticism
"Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party"; "he published an unexpected fire on my work";
- attack, flak, flack, blast
[archaic] Once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)

Verb: fire fI(-u)r

Start firing a weapon
- open fire
Cause to go off
"fire a bullet"; "fire a gun";
- discharge
(cooking) bake in a kiln so as to harden
"fire pottery"
Terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position
"The boss fired his secretary today";
- displace, give notice, can [N. Amer, informal], dismiss, give the axe, send away, sack, force out, give the sack, terminate
Go off or discharge
"The gun fired";
- discharge, go off
Drive out or away by or as if by fire
"The soldiers were fired"; "Surrender fires the cold scepticism"
Call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
- arouse, elicit, enkindle, kindle, evoke, raise, provoke
Destroy by fire
- burn, burn down
Provide as a source of energy or heat
"Oil fires the furnace";
- fuel