词性: nounsth burning
1 [U] the flames, light and heat, and often smoke, that are produced when sth burns:
Most animals are afraid of fire.
2 [U,C] flames that are out of control and destroy buildings, trees, etc:
The car was now on fire. * The warehouse has been badly damaged by fire. * fire-fighting equipment * Several youths had set fire to the police car (= had made it start burning). * A candle had set the curtains on fire. * These thatched roofs frequently catch fire (= start to burn). * forest fires * Five people died in a house fire last night. * A small fire had started in the kitchen. * Fires were breaking out everywhere. * It took two hours to put out the fire (= stop it burning).
for heating / cooking
3 [C] a pile of burning fuel, such as wood or coal, used for cooking food or heating a room:
to make / build a fire * a log / coal fire * Sam had lit a fire to welcome us home. * Come and get warm by the fire. * We sat in front of a roaring fire.
seealsoBONFIRE, CAMPFIRE
4 [C] (especially BrE) a piece of equipment for heating a room:
a gas / electric fire * Shall I put the fire on?
seealsoHEATER
from guns
5 [U] shots from guns:
a burst of machine-gun fire * to return fire (= to fire back at sb who is shooting at you) * The gunmen opened fire on (= started shooting at) the police. * Their vehicle came under fire (= was being shot at). * He ordered his men to hold their fire (= not to shoot). * A young girl was in the line of fire (= between the person shooting and what he / she was shooting at). * I'll give you covering fire while you try to escape.
anger / enthusiasm
6 [U] very strong emotion, especially anger or enthusiasm:
Her eyes were full of fire. * The fire seemed to die in him when his wife left.
IDIOMS
be / come under fire to be criticized severely for sth you have done:
The health minister has come under fire from all sides.
hang / hold fire to delay or be delayed in taking action:
The project had hung fire for several years for lack of funds.
on fire giving you a painful burning feeling:
He couldn't breathe. His chest was on fire.
play with fire to act in a way that is not sensible and take dangerous risks
moreatADDv., BAPTISM, DRAWv., FIGHTv., FRYINGPAN, HOUSEn., IRONn., SMOKEn., WORLD
