n. The visible heat, or light, evolved by the action of a high temperature on certain bodies, which are in consequence styled inflammable or combustible; combustion, or the heat and light evolved during the process of combustion.n. Fuel in a state of combustion, as on a hearth or the ground, or in a grate, stove, or furnace; a burning mass of material lighted for the sake of warmth or for the utilization of the heat or light from it.n. The burning of any large collection of material, as a building, town, forest, etc.; a conflagration: as, the great fire of London or of Chicago; a forest or a prairie fire.n. A spark or sparks; specifically, a spark, as from red-hot iron, or from flint or other stones when struck.n. Flashing light; vivid luster; splendor.n. In precious stones, the quality of refracting and dispersing light, and the brilliancy of effect that comes from this quality.n. A luminous body; a star.n. A sensation of internal heat arising from either a physical or a mental cause; an inflammatory process or effect.n. Ardor; burning desire; passionate love for something.n. Consuming violence, as of temper; fierceness; vehemence: as, the fire of love or of enmity.n. Liveliness of imagination; vigor of fancy; force of sentiment or expression; capacity for ardor and zeal; animation; vivacity.n. Subjection to evil effects of any kind; especially, overwhelming trouble; severe trial: used with reference to the old or savage practice of trial or torture by fire, and especially to the passing through the fire to Moloch mentioned in the Bible: as, to pass through or be subjected to the fires of affliction.n. [⟨ fire, v. t., 6.] The firing or discharge of firearms; the discharge of a number of firearms, as rifles, muskets, or cannon, from a body of troops, a battery, or the like: as, to be under fire; to silence the enemy's fire; enfilade and ricochet fire, etc.n. A fire kindled with the object of leading a ship to destruction; a false or misleading beacon.n. A fire burning chiefly in the interior of the mass of fuel, so as to avoid waste of the coal by combustion on the outside, where it is not in contact with the metal. For the common blacksmith's fire semi-bituminous coal is preferred.n. Figuratively, to make fiery; inflame; excite violently.n. Figuratively, to become inflamed; be violently excited or aroused.To set on fire; enkindle: as, to fire a house or a chimney; to fire a pile.To expose to the action of fire; prepare by the application of heat; bake: as, to fire pottery; to fire a slack of bricks.To inflame; irritate the feelings or passions of: as, to fire one with anger or revenge.To animate; give life or spirit to.To drive out or away by fire.To subject to explosion or explosive force by the application of fire (usually in the form of a spark, variously produced); discharge, send forth, or break up by explosion: as, to fire a gun or pistol; to fire a cannon-ball or a shell; to fire a blast or a mine.To throw as a missile.In veterinary surgery, to cauterize.To illuminate strongly; make to shine as if on fire.To eject, dismiss, or expel forcibly or peremptorily: commonly with out. See to fire out below.To eject, expel, or dismiss forcibly or peremptorily; discharge from employment; bounce: in allusion to the discharge of a cannon-ball.To take fire; be kindled.To be or become heated, irritated, or inflamed: as, his feet fire easily in walking.To become excited; become irritated or inflamed with passion. See to fire up , below.To discharge artillery or firearms: as, they fired on the town.To discharge or throw a missile or missiles.To ring all the bells in a peal at once.To become irritated or angry; fly into a passion.In geology, to break out in flames or incandescent gases: said of volcanoes.