n.

1. the event of something burning (often destructive)
   
   • they lost everything in the fire
2. the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke;
   flame, flaming
   
   • fire was one of our ancestors' first discoveries
3. the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy;
   firing
   
   • hold your fire until you can see the whites of their eyes
   • they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire
4. a fireplace in which a relatively small fire is burning
   
   • they sat by the fire and talked
5. intense adverse criticism;
   attack, flak, flack, blast
   
   • Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party
   • the government has come under attack
   • don't give me any flak
6. feelings of great warmth and intensity;
   ardor, ardour, fervor, fervour, fervency, fervidness
   
   • he spoke with great ardor
7. once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
8. a severe trial
   
   • he went through fire and damnation

v.

1. start firing a weapon;
   open fire
2. cause to go off;
   discharge
   
   • fire a gun
   • fire a bullet
3. bake in a kiln so as to harden
   
   • fire pottery
4. terminate the employment of;
   give notice, can, dismiss, give the axe, send away, sack, force out, give the sack, terminate
   
   • The boss fired his secretary today
   • The company terminated 25% of its workers
5. go off or discharge;
   discharge, go off
   
   • The gun fired
6. drive out or away by or as if by fire
   
   • The soldiers were fired
   • Surrender fires the cold skepticism
7. call forth   (emotions, feelings, and responses);
   arouse, elicit, enkindle, kindle, evoke, raise, provoke
   
   • arouse pity
   • raise a smile
   • evoke sympathy
8. destroy by fire;
   burn, burn down
   
   • They burned the house and his diaries
9. provide with fuel;
   fuel
   
   • Oil fires the furnace