fire

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
fire/ˈfʌɪə(r)/

▶noun

• 1 the state of burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and give out bright light, heat, and smoke.

  ■ a destructive burning.

  ■ one of the four elements in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology.

• 2 a collection of fuel burnt in a hearth or stove for heating or cooking.

  ■ chiefly Brit. (also electric fire or gas fire) a domestic heating appliance that uses electricity or gas as fuel.

• 3 a burning sensation.

  ■ passionate emotion or enthusiasm.

• 4 the firing of guns.

  ■ strong criticism.

▶verb

• 1 propel (a bullet or projectile) from a gun or other weapon.

  ■ discharge (a gun or other weapon).

  ■ direct a rapid succession of (questions or statements) towards someone.

• 2 informal dismiss from a job.

• 3 supply (a furnace, power station, etc.) with fuel.

  ■ (of an internal-combustion engine) undergo ignition of its fuel.

  ■ set fire to.

• 4 stimulate (the imagination or an emotion).

  ■ fill with enthusiasm: he was fired up for the Cup Final.

• 5 bake or dry (pottery, bricks, etc.) in a kiln.

– phrases
catch fire begin to burn.
fire and brimstone the supposed torments of hell.
fire away informal go ahead.
firing on all (four) cylinders functioning at a peak level.
go through fire (and water) face any peril.
on fire

• 1 burning.

• 2 very excited.

set fire to (or set on fire) cause to burn.
set the world on fire do something remarkable or sensational.
take fire start to burn.
under fire

• 1 being shot at.

• 2 being severely criticized.

– derivatives
fireless adjective,
firer noun,
firing noun.

– origin OE fȳr (n.), fȳrian ‘supply with material for a fire’, of W. Gmc origin.