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1. The process of combustion of flammable materials; produces heat, light, and (often) smoke
   "fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries";
   - flame, flaming
    
2. The event of something burning (often destructive)
   "they lost everything in the fire"
    
3. 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
    
4. A fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning
   "they sat by the fire and talked"
    
5. Feelings of great warmth and intensity
   - ardor [US], ardour [Brit, Cdn], fervor [US], fervour [Brit, Cdn], fervency, fervidness
    
6. Fuel that is burning and is used as a means for cooking
   "put the kettle on the fire"; "barbecue over an open fire"
    
7. A severe trial
   "he went through fire and damnation"
    
8. Intense adverse criticism
   "Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party"; "he published an unexpected fire on my work";
   - attack, flak [informal], flack, blast [informal], stick [Brit, informal]
    
9. A shell, bullet, etc. fired from a gun or other ranged weapon
    
10. [archaic] Once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles), associated with the humour bile

1. Start firing a weapon
   - open fire
    
2. Cause to go off
   "fire a bullet"; "fire a gun";
   - discharge
    
3. (cooking) bake in a kiln so as to harden
   "fire pottery"
    
4. 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 [informal], send away, sack, force out, give the sack, terminate
    
5. Go off or discharge
   "The gun fired";
   - discharge, go off
    
6. Drive out or away by or as if by fire
   "The soldiers were fired"; "Surrender fires the cold scepticism"
    
7. Call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
   - arouse, elicit, enkindle [literary], kindle, evoke, raise, provoke
    
8. Destroy by fire
   - burn, burn down
    
9. Provide as a source of energy or heat
   "Oil fires the furnace";
   - fuel
    
10. (physiology) generate an electrical impulse
    "the neurons fired fast"
     
11. Become ignited
    "The furnace wouldn't fire";
    - flame up
     
12. Start or maintain a fire in
    "fire the furnace";
    - light, ignite

1. Subjected to enemy attack or censure
   "an official under fire for mismanagement";
   - under attack

See also: vulnerable

Type of: attack, bake, blast, burning, chase away, combustion, create, criticism, destroy, dispel, drive away, drive off, drive out, element, fireplace, fuel, furnish, generate, happening, hearth, make, natural event, occurrence, occurrent, offer, onrush, onset, onslaught, open fireplace, passion, passionateness, provide, remove, render, ruin, run off, shoot, supply, trial, tribulation, turn back, unfavorable judgment [US], unfavourable judgment [Brit, Cdn], visitation

Encyclopedia: Fire, Ice and Dynamite