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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Fire

Fire, n.

noun

n. [A-S., Icel., Dan., & Sw. fyr, O. Sax. & O. H. Ger. fiur, M. H. Ger. viur, N. H. Ger. feuer, D. vuur, allied to Gr. πῦρ.]

Sense 1. The evolution of light and heat in the combustion of bodies, or that active natural process by which burning bodies are decomposed with the evolution of heat and light; combustion; state of ignition.

The form of fire exhibited in the combustion of gases in an ascending stream or current, is called flame. Anciently, fire, air, earth, and water were regarded as the four elements of which all things are composed.

Sense 2. Fuel in a state of combustion, as on a hearth, or in a furnace; the burning of a house or town; a conflagration.

Sense 3. Ardor of passion, whether love or hate; excessive warmth; consuming violence of temper. “He had fire in his temper.” Atterbury.

Sense 4. Liveliness and warmth of imagination; brightness of fancy; intellectual and moral enthusiasm; earnestness for worthy or noble objects; capacity for excited ardor and zeal.

And warm the critic with a poet’s fire. Pope.

Sense 5. Splendor; brilliancy; luster; hence, a star. “Stars, hide your fires.” Shak. “The heavenly fires.” Milton.

Sense 6. Torture by burning; severe trial or affliction.

Sense 7. The discharge of fire-arms; as, the troops were exposed to a heavy fire.

Direct fire. See DIRECT.—Greek fire, a kind of inflammable material, burning with almost inextinguishable violence, used in war, chiefly as a projectile, by the Byzantine Greeks, having been introduced by one Callinicus, A. D. 688. It probably contained naphtha, and perhaps niter and sulphur.—Horizontal fire. See HORIZONTAL.—On fire, burning.—Plunging fire. See PLUNGING.—Running fire, the rapid discharge of fire-arms in succession by a line of troops.—St. Anthony’s fire, the erysipelas;—an eruptive fever which St. Anthony was supposed to cure miraculously. Hoblyn.—To set on fire, to inflame.

Fire, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. FIRED; p. pr. & vb. n. FIRING.]

  1. To set on fire; to kindle; as, to fire a house or chimney; to fire a pile.
  2. To inflame; to irritate, as the passions; as, to fire with anger or revenge. “Then soonest fired with zeal.” Milton.
  3. To animate; to give life or spirit to; as, to fire the genius.
  4. To drive by fire. [Obs.] “To fire us hence.” Shak.
  5. To cause to explode; to discharge; as, to fire a musket or cannon.
  6. (Far.) To cauterize.

To fire up, to light up the fires of, as of an engine.

Fire, v. i.

verbintransitive
  1. To take fire; to be kindled; to kindle.
  2. To be irritated or inflamed with passion.
  3. To discharge artillery or fire-arms; as, they fired on the town.

To fire up, to grow irritated or angry. “He . . . fired up, and stood vigorously on his defense.” Macaulay.