fire

fireverb

Many senses of fire share the idea of sending something out with sudden force: from a gun, from a job, or in a quick series of questions.

1. shootmake a gun send out a bullet, or send out a bullet or other thing from a gun

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] verb + object [V + obj] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • The soldiers fired at the enemy. V + prep + obj
   • He fired three shots into the air. V + obj
   • Someone fired a gun in the street last night. V + obj
   • Nobody knows who fired first.

   Collocations

   verb + noun fire a gun, fire a shot, fire a warning shot

   verb + preposition fire at someone, fire on someone, fire into something

   Synonyms shoot

   Antonyms employ

2. from a jobmake someone leave their job

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] usually passive [usually passive]

   • She was fired for being late every day. V + obj (passive)
   • The company fired twenty workers last month. V + obj
   • If you do that again, you're fired! V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fire a worker, fire an employee

   phrase get fired, be fired from a job

   Synonyms dismiss; sack

   Antonyms hire

3. questionsask someone a lot of questions quickly, one after another

   transitive [T] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • The reporters fired questions at the players. V + obj + prep + obj
   • She fired question after question at me. V + obj + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition fire questions at someone

4. excitemake someone's interest in something strong and active

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The story fired her imagination. V + obj
   • Her teacher's stories fired her interest in the past. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fire someone's imagination, fire someone's interest

5. clayheat objects made of clay in a special oven so that they become hard

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] usually passive [usually passive] art

   • After drying, the bowls are fired in a very hot oven. V + obj (passive)
   • She fires her pots in a small oven behind the house. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fire pots, fire clay