- Fire
- Fire Fire, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fired}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Fring}.]
1. To set on fire; to kindle; as, to fire a house or chimney;
to fire a pile.
[1913 Webster]
2. To subject to intense heat; to bake; to burn in a kiln; as, to fire pottery. [1913 Webster]
3. To inflame; to irritate, as the passions; as, to fire the soul with anger, pride, or revenge. [1913 Webster]
Love had fired my mind. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
4. To animate; to give life or spirit to; as, to fire the genius of a young man. [1913 Webster]
5. To feed or serve the fire of; as, to fire a boiler. [1913 Webster]
6. To light up as if by fire; to illuminate. [1913 Webster]
[The sun] fires the proud tops of the eastern pines. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
7. To cause to explode; as, to fire a torpedo; to disharge; as, to fire a rifle, pistol, or cannon; to fire cannon balls, rockets, etc. [1913 Webster]
8. To drive by fire. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Till my bad angel fire my good one out. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
9. (Far.) To cauterize. [1913 Webster]
10. to dismiss from employment, a post, or other job; to cause (a person) to cease being an employee; -- of a person. The act of firing is usually performed by that person's supervisor or employer. ``You can't fire me! I quit!'' [PJC]
{To fire up},
1. to light up the fires of, as of an engine; also, figuratively, to start up any machine.
2. to render enthusiastic; -- of people. [1913 Webster +PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
