fire

the event of something burning (often destructive)

“they lost everything in the fire”

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”

the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke

“fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries”

a fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning

“they sat by the fire and talked”

once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles), associated with the humour bile

feelings of great warmth and intensity

“he spoke with great ardor”

start firing a weapon

cause to go off

“fire a gun”

“fire a bullet”

bake in a kiln so as to harden

“fire pottery”

terminate the employment of; discharge from an office or position

“The boss fired his secretary today”

“The company terminated 25% of its workers”

go off or discharge

“The gun fired”

drive out or away by or as if by fire

“The soldiers were fired”

“Surrender fires the cold skepticism”