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A state of burning, producing light and heat through combustion.
The firefighters extinguished the fire quickly.
Firefighters are trained to put out fires safely.
Can refer to both natural and man-made fires.
To set something on fire or cause combustion.
She fired the grill to cook the burgers.
Firing a grill means igniting it to start cooking.
Can also mean to ignite or start a fire.
To dismiss someone from a job.
The company fired several employees due to budget cuts.
In business, 'fired' means terminated from employment.
Common in workplace contexts.
To launch a projectile, such as a bullet or missile.
The soldier fired his rifle at the target.
Firing a rifle means discharging it to hit a target.
Used in military and hunting contexts.
To excite or inspire strongly.
Her speech fired up the crowd.
To 'fire up' means to energize or motivate.
Common in motivational or emotional contexts.
The meaning of 'fire' changes based on context. Pay attention to the surrounding words to determine the correct usage.
As a verb, 'fire' can mean to dismiss someone or to ignite something. As a noun, it refers to combustion or a burning flame.
Old English 'fȳr,' from Proto-Germanic 'fōr,' meaning 'fire.' Related to Old Norse 'fyrr' and German 'Feuer.'
The word 'fire' has multiple meanings depending on context. It can refer to combustion, dismissal from a job, or launching a projectile. The informal meaning of 'firing up' someone refers to motivating them.