firing

[ fahyuh r-ing ]

/ ˈfaɪər ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR firing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of a person or thing that fires.

material for a fire; fuel.

the act of baking ceramics or glass.

Origin of firing

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at fire, -ing¹

OTHER WORDS FROM firing

un·fir·ing, adjective

Words nearby firing

firewood, firework, fireworks, fireworm, firie, firing, firing glass, firing line, firing line, on the, firing order, firing party

Definition for firing (2 of 2)

fire

[ fahyuh r ]

/ faɪər /

noun

a state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or other material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat, and flame.

a burning mass of material, as on a hearth or in a furnace.

the destructive burning of a building, town, forest, etc.; conflagration.

heat used for cooking, especially the lighted burner of a stove: Put the kettle on the fire.

Greek fire.

flashing light; luminous appearance.

brilliance, as of a gem.

burning passion; excitement or enthusiasm; ardor.

liveliness of imagination.

fever or inflammation.

severe trial or trouble; ordeal.

exposure to fire as a means of torture or ordeal.

strength, as of an alcoholic beverage.

a spark or sparks.

the discharge of firearms: enemy fire.

the effect of firing military weapons: to pour fire upon the enemy.

British. a gas or electric heater used for heating a room.

Literary. a luminous object, as a star: heavenly fires.

verb (used with object), fired, fir·ing.

to set on fire.

to supply with fuel; attend to the fire of: They fired the boiler.

to expose to the action of fire; subject to heat.

to apply heat to in a kiln for baking or glazing; burn.

to heat very slowly for the purpose of drying, as tea.

to inflame, as with passion; fill with ardor.

to inspire.

to light or cause to glow as if on fire.

to discharge (a gun).

to project (a bullet or the like) by or as if by discharging from a gun.

to subject to explosion or explosive force, as a mine.

to hurl; throw: to fire a stone through a window.

to dismiss from a job.

Veterinary Medicine. to apply a heated iron to (the skin) in order to create a local inflammation of the superficial structures, with the intention of favorably affecting deeper inflammatory processes.

to drive out or away by or as by fire.

verb (used without object), fired, fir·ing.

to take fire; be kindled.

to glow as if on fire.

to become inflamed with passion; become excited.

to shoot, as a gun.

to discharge a gun: to fire at a fleeing enemy.

to hurl a projectile.

Music. to ring the bells of a chime all at once.

(of plant leaves) to turn yellow or brown before the plant matures.

(of an internal-combustion engine) to cause ignition of the air-fuel mixture in a cylinder or cylinders.

(of a nerve cell) to discharge an electric impulse.

Verb Phrases

fire away, Informal. to begin to talk and continue without slackening, as to ask a series of questions: The reporters fired away at the president.

fire off,

to discharge (as weapons, ammunition, etc.): Police fired off canisters of tear gas.
to write and send hurriedly: She fired off an angry letter to her congressman.

Origin of fire

before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English fȳr; cognate with Old Norse fūrr, German Feuer, Greek pŷr (see pyro-); (v.) Middle English firen to kindle, inflame, derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM fire

fir·er, noun coun·ter·fire, noun, verb (used without object), coun·ter·fired, coun·ter·fir·ing. re·fire, verb, re·fired, re·fir·ing. un·fired, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH fire

downsize fire lay off rightsize terminate

Example sentences from the Web for firing

The firing of a new executive brought in to shake up the flailing show is getting dead-movie-star tabloid coverage.

Behind the ‘Today’ Show’s Latest Meltdown |Lloyd Grove |November 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
When you are firing out at night, the red tracers go out into the blackness as if you were drawing with a light pen.

War Is Hell and Such Good Fun |Don Gomez |November 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“Social media is going to solve this crime,” he says, before facing a firing squad of death stares from his colleagues.

‘Newsroom’ Premiere: Aaron Sorkin Puts CNN on Blast Over the Boston Bombing |Kevin Fallon |November 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Turkish gendarmes ran past me, shouting at the refugees to clear off, firing more canisters for good measure.

When ISIS Is An Excuse For A Police State |Jamie Dettmer |October 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

We could hear them running outside, yelling and firing their guns.

Beirut Letter: In Lebanon, Fighting ISIS With Culture and Satire |Kim Ghattas |September 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He burst in upon her to declare his love, as if it were a question of firing the first shot on a field of battle.

The Duchesse de Langeais |Honore de Balzac
Davies's brigade fought gallantly to resist Hampton's assaults, which began as soon as the firing on Custer in the rear was heard.

Civil War Experiences |Henry Coddington Meyer
I asked for reinforcements and provisions; we had been in the firing line for sixty hours.

Dixmude |Charles Le Goffic
I heard constant sounds of firing and the noisy shouts of the buccaneers as they trooped out of the cavern and down the hill.

Latitude 19 degree |Mrs. Schuyler Crowninshield
Away up on the hill Taylor's battery was firing a national salute.

The Boys of '61 |Charles Carleton Coffin.

British Dictionary definitions for firing (1 of 2)

firing

/ (ˈfaɪərɪŋ) /

noun

the process of baking ceramics, etc, in a kiln or furnace a second firing

the act of stoking a fire or furnace

a discharge of a firearm

something used as fuel, such as coal or wood

US a scorching of plants, as a result of disease, drought, or heat

British Dictionary definitions for firing (2 of 2)

fire

/ (faɪə) /

noun

the state of combustion in which inflammable material burns, producing heat, flames, and often smoke

a mass of burning coal, wood, etc, used esp in a hearth to heat a room
(in combination)firewood; firelighter

a destructive conflagration, as of a forest, building, etc

a device for heating a room, etc

something resembling a fire in light or brilliance a diamond's fire

a flash or spark of or as if of fire

the act of discharging weapons, artillery, etc
the shells, etc, fired

a burst or rapid volley a fire of questions

intense passion; ardour

liveliness, as of imagination, thought, etc

a burning sensation sometimes produced by drinking strong alcoholic liquor

fever and inflammation

a severe trial or torment (esp in the phrase go through fire and water)

catch fire to ignite

draw someone's fire to attract the criticism or censure of someone

hang fire

to delay firing
to delay or be delayed

no smoke without fire the evidence strongly suggests something has indeed happened

on fire

in a state of ignition
ardent or eager
informal playing or performing at the height of one's abilities

open fire to start firing a gun, artillery, etc

play with fire to be involved in something risky

set fire to or set on fire British

to ignite
to arouse or excite

set the world on fire, British set the Thames on fire or Scot set the heather on fire informal to cause a great sensation

under fire being attacked, as by weapons or by harsh criticism

(modifier) astrology of or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius Compare earth (def. 10), air (def. 20), water (def. 12)

verb

to discharge (a firearm or projectile) or (of a firearm, etc) to be discharged

to detonate (an explosive charge or device) or (of such a charge or device) to be detonated

(tr) informal to dismiss from employment

(tr) ceramics to bake in a kiln to harden the clay, fix the glaze, etc

to kindle or be kindled; ignite

(tr) to provide with fuel oil fires the heating system

(intr) to tend a fire

(tr) to subject to heat

(tr) to heat slowly so as to dry

(tr) to arouse to strong emotion

to glow or cause to glow

(intr) (of an internal-combustion engine) to ignite

(intr) (of grain) to become blotchy or yellow before maturity

vet science another word for cauterize

(intr) Australian informal (of a sportsman, etc) to play well or with enthusiasm

sentence substitute

a cry to warn others of a fire

the order to begin firing a gun, artillery, etc

Derived forms of fire

fireable, adjective fireless, adjective firer, noun

Word Origin for fire

Old English fӯr; related to Old Saxon fiur, Old Norse fūrr, Old High German fūir, Greek pur

Medical definitions for firing

fire

[ fīr ]

v.

To generate an electrical impulse. Used of a neuron.

Idioms and Phrases with firing

fire

In addition to the idioms beginning with fire

fire away
fire off
fire on all cylinders
fire up

also see:

add fuel to the fire
ball of fire
baptism of fire
catch fire
caught in the cross-fire
draw fire
fat is in the fire
fight fire with fire
get on (like a house afire)
hang fire
hold one's fire
hold someone's feet to the fire
irons in the fire
light a fire under
line of fire
miss fire
no smoke without fire
on fire
open fire
out of the frying pan into the fire
play with fire
set on fire
set the world on fire
spread like wildfire
trial by fire
under fire
where's the fire

Also see underfiring.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

firing

noun

Origin of firing

OTHER WORDS FROM firing

Words nearby firing

Definition for firing (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), fired, fir·ing.

verb (used without object), fired, fir·ing.

Verb Phrases

Origin of fire

OTHER WORDS FROM fire

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH fire

Example sentences from the Web for firing

British Dictionary definitions for firing (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for firing (2 of 2)

noun

verb

sentence substitute

Derived forms of fire

Word Origin for fire

Medical definitions for firing

v.

Idioms and Phrases with firing

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

firing

noun

Origin of firing

OTHER WORDS FROM firing

Words nearby firing

Definition for firing (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), fired, fir·ing.

verb (used without object), fired, fir·ing.

Verb Phrases

Origin of fire

OTHER WORDS FROM fire

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH fire

Words related to firing

Example sentences from the Web for firing

British Dictionary definitions for firing (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for firing (2 of 2)

noun

verb

sentence substitute

Derived forms of fire

Word Origin for fire

Medical definitions for firing

v.

Idioms and Phrases with firing