fire

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. flame, blaze, conflagration, holocaust; enthusiasm, verve. —v. t. kindle, ignite; shoot, detonate; inspire, arouse; dismiss, discharge. See heat, propulsion, excitement, fuel, vigor, ejection.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [Visible oxidation]

Syn. flame, conflagration, burning, blaze, campfire, pyre, bonfire, brush fire, signal fire, incandescence, devouring element, sparks, heat, glow, warmth, luminosity, combustion, flare, flare-up, inferno, holocaust, wildfire, blazing fire, hearth, ignition, scintillation, phlogiston.

2. [The discharge of orDNAnce]

Syn. gunfire, shooting, firing, bombardment, volley, barrage, artillery attack, cannonade, cannonading, bombarding, rounds, explosion, shot, report, bombing, fusillade, sniping, mortar attack, salvo, shelling, blast, burst, shellburst, spray, discharge, detonation, drumfire, creeping barrage, artillery support, cross-fire, enfilade, broadside, curtain, curtain of fire, air support, air strike, firepower, antiaircraft fire, flak, ack-ack*; see also attack 1 .

3. [Fiery temperament]

Syn. dash, sparkle, verve, ardor; see enthusiasm 1 .

• catch (on) fire,

Syn. begin burning, ignite, flare up, burst into flame; see burn 1 .

• go through fire and water,

Syn. brave danger, endure hardship, survive, suffer; see dare 1 , endure 2 .

• light ( or [m1]• build) a fire under,

Syn. spur, goad, inspire, motivate; see drive 1 , motivate .

• on fire,

4. [Burning]

Syn. flaming, blazing, fiery; see burning 1 .

5. [Excited]

Syn. full of ardor, enthusiastic, zealous; see enthusiastic 1 , excited .

• open fire,

Syn. start shooting, shoot at, attack, start; see begin 1 , shoot 1 .

• play with fire*,

Syn. gamble, court danger, tempt fate; see chance 2 , risk .

• set fire to,

Syn. ignite, set on fire, make burn, torch; see burn 2 , ignite .

• set the world on fire*,

Syn. achieve, become famous, excel; see succeed 1 .

• under fire,

Syn. criticized, censured, under attack, embattled; see accused , questionable 1 , 2 .

v.

1. [To set on fire]

Syn. ignite, light, put a match to, set burning; see burn 2 , ignite .

2. [To shoot]

Syn. discharge, shoot off, set off, hurl; see shoot 1 .

3. [To dismiss]

Syn. discharge, let go, oust, give the ax*; see dismiss 2 .

4. [To animate]

Syn. inspirit, inspire, arouse, inflame; see excite 1 , 2 .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. flame blaze, conflagration, inferno, flare, sparks, embers, combustion, wildfire, bonfire, holocaust. The symbol of civilization.''—Joseph Hertz. ''God's unfailing charity.''—John Oxenham. ''The most tolerable third party.''—Thoreau.

WORD FIND

• building that is a fire hazard: firetrap

• causing fire: incendiary

• door designed to withstand intense heat and flames: fire door

• fear of fire: pyrophobia

• firesetter with criminal intentions: arsonist, incendiary

• firesetter with mental problems: pyromaniac, firebug

• firesetting compulsion: pyromania

• forecasting the future by peering into flames: pyromancy

• god: Vulcan

• intense, widespread fire caused by nuclear detonation: firestorm

• strip of land cleared to stop fire spread: firebreak

• wall designed to withstand intense heat and flames: fire wall

• worshipper: pyrolater

2. enthusiasm energy, drive, vigor, zeal, fervor, intensity, ardor, passion, verve, gusto, vehemence.

3. gunfire round, barrage, shelling, salvo, fusillade, volley, strafing.

ANT.: 2. apathy, indifference, dispassion

II

v.

1. shoot discharge, shell, pull the trigger, let off, detonate.

2. rouse arouse, excite, inflame, spark, stir, incite, electrify, inspire, quicken, galvanize.

3. discharge from duties *pink slip, lay off, dismiss, *give walking papers, *can, *show the door, *axe, *let go, give notice, *sack.

ANT.: 1. ceasefire. 2. dampen, discourage. 3. hire

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. The visible signs of combustion: blaze1, conflagration, flame, flare-up. See HOT. 2. Powerful, intense emotion: ardor, fervency, fervor, passion. See FEELINGS. 3. Passionate devotion to or interest in a cause or subject, for example: ardor, enthusiasm, fervor, passion, zeal, zealousness. See CONCERN, FEELINGS. 4. Exceptional brightness and clarity, as of a cut and polished stone: brilliance, brilliancy, luminosity, radiance. See LIGHT. 5. Liveliness and vivacity of imagination: brilliance, brilliancy, genius, inspiration. See GOOD. II verb 1. To cause to burn or undergo combustion: enkindle, ignite, kindle, light1. Slang: torch. Idioms: set afire (or on fire), set fire to. See HOT, START. 2. To arouse the emotions of; make ardent: animate, enkindle, impassion, inspire, kindle, stir1. See EXCITE. 3. To discharge a gun or firearm: shoot. Idiom: take a shot at. See ACTION. 4. To release or cause to release energy suddenly and violently, especially with a loud noise: blast, blow1 (up), burst, detonate, explode, fulminate, go off, touch off. See EXPLOSION. 5. To launch with great force: hurtle, loose, project, propel, shoot. Idiom: let fly. See MOVE. 6. Informal. To send through the air with a motion of the hand or arm: cast, dart, dash, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, launch, pitch, shoot, shy2, sling, throw, toss. See MOVE. 7. Informal. To end the employment or service of: cashier, discharge, dismiss, drop, release, terminate. Informal: ax, pink-slip. Slang: boot1, bounce, can, sack1. Idioms: give someone his or her walking papers, give someone the ax, give someone the gate, give someone the pink slip, let go, show someone the door. See KEEP.