fi re ex|tin|guish|er (fire extinguishers ) also fire-extinguisher N‑COUNT A fire extinguisher is a metal cylinder which contains water or chemicals at high pressure which can put out fires.
fire|fight /fa I ə r fa I t/ (firefights ) N‑COUNT A firefight is a battle in a war which involves the use of guns rather than bombs or any other sort of weapon. [JOURNALISM ] □ U.S. Marines had a firefight with local gunmen this morning.
fire|fighter /fa I ə r fa I tə r / (firefighters ) also fire fighter , fire-fighter N‑COUNT [usu pl] Firefighters are people whose job is to put out fires.
fire|fighting /fa I ə r fa I t I ŋ/ also fire fighting , fire-fighting N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Firefighting is the work of putting out fires. □ There was no fire-fighting equipment.
fire|fly /fa I ə r fla I / (fireflies ) also fire fly N‑COUNT A firefly is a type of beetle that produces light from its body.
fire|guard /fa I ə r gɑː r d/ (fireguards ) also fire-guard N‑COUNT A fireguard is a screen made of strong wire that you put round a fire so that people cannot accidentally burn themselves.
fi re hy|drant (fire hydrants ) also fire-hydrant N‑COUNT A fire hydrant is a pipe in the street from which fire fighters can obtain water for putting out a fire.
fire|light /fa I ə r la I t/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N ] Firelight is the light that comes from a fire. □ In the firelight his head gleamed with sweat.
fire|man /fa I ə r mən/ (firemen ) N‑COUNT A fireman is a male firefighter whose job is to put out fires.
fire|place /fa I ə r ple I s/ (fireplaces ) N‑COUNT In a room, the fireplace is the place where a fire can be lit and the area on the wall and floor surrounding this place.
fire|power /fa I ə r paʊə r / N‑UNCOUNT The firepower of an army, ship, tank, or aircraft is the amount of ammunition it can fire. □ America has enough firepower in the area to mount sustained air strikes.
fire|proof /fa I ə r pruːf/ ADJ Something that is fireproof cannot be damaged by fire. □ …fireproof clothing.
fi re-retardant ADJ Fire-retardant substances make the thing that they are applied to burn more slowly. □ …fire-retardant foam.
fi re sale (fire sales )
1 N‑COUNT A fire sale is an event in which goods are sold cheaply because the shop or storeroom they were in has been damaged by fire.
2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] If you describe a sale of goods or other assets as a fire sale , you mean that everything is being sold very cheaply. □ They're likely to hold big fire sales to liquidate their inventory.
fi re ser|vice (fire services ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] The fire service is an organization which has the job of putting out fires. [BRIT ] □ Crowds of youths prevented the fire service from dealing with the blaze. in AM, use fire department
fire|side /fa I ə r sa I d/ (firesides ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you sit by the fireside in a room, you sit near the fire. □ …winter evenings by the fireside. □ …cosy fireside chats.
fi re sta|tion (fire stations ) N‑COUNT A fire station is a building where fire engines are kept, and where firefighters wait until they are called to put out a fire.
fire|storm /fa I ə r stɔː r m/ (firestorms ) also fire storm
1 N‑COUNT A firestorm is a fire that is burning uncontrollably, usually in a place that has been bombed.
2 N‑COUNT If you say that there is a firestorm of protest or criticism, you are emphasizing that there is a great deal of very fierce protest or criticism. [AM , EMPHASIS ] □ The speech has resulted in a firestorm of controversy.
fi re truck (fire trucks ) N‑COUNT A fire truck is a large vehicle which carries fire fighters and equipment for putting out fires. [AM , AUSTRALIAN ] in BRIT, usually use fire engine
fire|wall /fa I ə r wɔːl/ (firewalls ) N‑COUNT A firewall is a computer system or program that automatically prevents an unauthorized person from gaining access to a computer when it is connected to a network such as the internet. [COMPUTING ] □ New technology should provide a secure firewall against hackers.
Fire|Wire /fa I ə r wa I ə r / N‑UNCOUNT FireWire is a type of connection on a computer that allows you to attach another piece of equipment such as a printer. [COMPUTING , TRADEMARK ] □ I have an old external drive with a FireWire connection.
fire|wood /fa I ə r wʊd/ N‑UNCOUNT Firewood is wood that has been cut into pieces so that it can be burned on a fire.
fire|work /fa I ə r wɜː r k/ (fireworks ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Fireworks are small objects that are lit to entertain people on special occasions. They contain chemicals and burn brightly or attractively, often with a loud noise, when you light them. □ …a firework display.
fi r|ing line (firing lines ) also firing-line
1 N‑COUNT If you are in the firing line in a conflict, you are in a position where someone is aiming their gun at you. □ Any hostages in the firing line would have been sacrificed.
2 N‑SING [usu in/out of N ] If you say that someone is in the firing line , you mean that they are being criticized, blamed, or attacked for something. □ Foreign banks are in the firing line too.
fi r|ing squad (firing squads ) N‑COUNT [oft by N ] A firing squad is a group of soldiers who are ordered to shoot and kill a person who has been found guilty of committing a crime. □ He was executed by firing squad.