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fire-fly /'faɪəflaɪ||'ær-/ n an insect with a tail that shines in the dark
fire-guard /'faɪəgɑ:d||-ərgɑ:rd/ also firescreen AmE — n a protective metal framework put round a fireplace to stop children going too near
fire-house /'faɪəhaʊs||-ər-/ n pl. -houses /,haʊzɪz/ AmE a small FIRE STATION, especially in a small town
'fire,hydrant also hydrant BrE || fireplug AmE — n a water pipe in a street used as a water supply for fighting fires
'fire,irons n [P] the metal tools used for looking after a coal fire in a home
fire-light /'faɪəlaɪt||-ər-/ n [U] the light produced from a fire in the fireplace, often considered warm, gentle, and ROMANTIC: She looked beautiful in the firelight.
fire-light-er /'faɪə,laɪtər||'faɪər-/ n [C;U] especially BrE (a piece of) a substance which burns easily and helps to light a coal fire
fire-man /'faɪəmən||'faɪər-/ n pl. -men /mən/ 1 a man whose job is to stop fires burning 2 a person who looks after the fire in a steam engine or FURNACE
Fire of 'London, the → see GREAT FIRE OF LONDON
fire-place /'faɪəpleɪs||-ər-/ n the opening for a coal or wood fire in the wall of a room, with a chimney above it and usually a HEARTH and MANTELPIECE around it
fire-plug /'faɪəplg||-ər-/ n AmE old-fash a FIRE HYDRANT
fire-pow-er /'faɪə,paʊər||-faɪər-/ n [U] tech the ability to deliver gunfire or use other kinds of weapon effectively: the enemy's superior firepower
fire-proof /'faɪəpru:f||-ər-/ v [T] to make (a material, building etc) not able to be damaged by heat or flames —fireproof adj
'fire-,raising n [U] BrE the crime of starting fires on purpose; ARSON —er n
'fire sale n a sale of goods that have been slightly damaged by a fire, or of goods that must be sold because, as the result of a fire, there is nowhere to keep them
fire-screen /'faɪəskri:n||-ər-/ n AmE for FIREGUARD
fire-side /'faɪəsad||-ər-/ n [C usually sing.] the area around the fireplace, often thought of as representing the comfort and pleasures of home life: He sat by the fireside drinking his cocoa.
fireside 'chat n 1 a friendly conversation by a fireside 2 one of a group of speeches given on US radio by American President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which told people in an informal way what the government was doing. Roosevelt was the first president to tell people in a direct way what he was thinking and doing. All the presidents after him have used either radio or television in the same way though not always so regularly.
'fire ,station n a building for FIREFIGHTERS and their vehicles and equipment
Fire-stone /'faɪəstəʊn||'faɪər-/ trademark a company that makes a BRAND (=type) of tyre called Firestone and other rubber products. It is part of the US company Bridgestone.
fire-storm /'faɪəstɔ:m||-ərstɔ:rm/ n a very large fire, usually started by bombs, that is kept burning by the high winds that are drawn into it
fire-trap /'faɪətræp||-ər-/ n a building which is dangerous because it may easily catch fire and/or be difficult to escape from in case of fire
'fire ,truck n AmE a FIRE ENGINE
fire-wall /'faɪəwɔ:l||-ər-/ n 1 a special wall that prevents fires from spreading to other parts of a building 2 a system that protects a computer NETWORK from being used or looked at by people who do not have permission to do so
fire-watch-er /'faɪə,wɒtʃər||-ər, wɑ:tʃ-, -,wɔ:tʃ-/ n one of the people who kept watch for fire bombs in British cities when they were being bombed by German aircraft during the Second World War. Firewatchers usually waited on the tops of tall buildings and tried to put out fires as soon as they started.
fire-wa-ter /'faɪə,wɔ:tər||'faɪər,w:t-, -,wɑ:-/ n [U] humor strong alcoholic drink, such as WHISKY
fire-wood /'faɪəwʊd||-ər-/ n [U] wood cut for burning on fires: chopping firewood in the yard
fire-work /'faɪəw:k||-ərwɜ:rk/ n [usually pl.] a small container filled with an explosive chemical powder that burns or explodes to produce a show of light, noise, and smoke
CULTURAL NOTE
In the US fireworks are used to celebrate the FOURTH OF JULY and some other special occasions, and people go to parks or other public places to see them. There are also sometimes fireworks shows at special events such as FAIRS. In some parts of the US it is illegal to buy and light fireworks yourself. In the UK, people buy and light fireworks themselves to celebrate GUY FAWKES' NIGHT, or they might go to organized events where a lot of fireworks are lit. Many people who originally lived in India or whose parents came from India, celebrate the Hindu FESTIVAL of Diwali with fireworks. People often buy fireworks to celebrate birthdays or New Year's Day, and some people complain about the noise that fireworks cause.
fire-works /'faɪəwɜ:ks||-ərwɜ:rks/ n [P] infml a show of anger: I told you there'd be fireworks if you contradicted her.
'firing ,line, the n a position or situation in which one is the object of (often undeserved) attack, blame etc: It's the police who are always in the firing line when there are political demonstrations.
'firing ,squad n [C+sing./pl. v] a group of soldiers with the duty of putting a person to death by shooting
firm¹ /fɜ:m||fɜ:rm/ n a business company: She works for an engineering firm/a firm of stockbrokers.
firm² adj 1 solidly fixed in place: I don't think that chair's firm enough to stand on. (=it may slip or fall over) 2 not changing or likely to change: I'm a firm believer in always telling the truth. | The pound stayed firm (=did not change its value) against the dollar in London but fell a little in New York. | Our offer was met with a firm refusal. 3 strong and giving a feeling of trust: She has a good firm handshake. | He kept a firm hold on my arm as he helped me over the fence. 4 determined in purpose; RESOLUTE: Our army stood firm in the face of a terrible onslaught. | Always hold firm to your beliefs. | You'll have to be firm with class three; they're a noisy lot. —ly adv: I firmly believe that we are justified in taking this course of action. —ness n [U]
firm³ v [I;T (UP)] to (cause to) become firm: Stock market prices have firmed. (=become steady) | We should be able to firm up the agreement (=put it into a fixed form) today.
fir-ma-ment /'fɜ:məmənt||'fɜ:rm-/ n [the] lit or old use the sky
firm 'offer n a price suggested for a service or for goods which becomes legally fixed if accepted
firm-ware /'fɜ:meə||'fɜ:rm-ə/ n [U] tech instructions for controlling the operation of a computer, stored on CHIPS rather than in programs → compare HARDWARE, SOFTWARE
first¹ /fɜ:st||fɜ:rst/ determiner, adv 1 before anything else; before the others: George arrived first/was the first person to arrive. | 'Let's go.' 'I'll have to find my keys first.' | First, let me deal with the most important difficulty. | It was the first time I had ever been in a plane. | First impressions are very important. 2 for the first time: Is this your first visit to New York? | I remember when I first met him. 3 at the beginning: When we first lived here there were no buses. | First I want to establish some basic points. | The first few days passed very quickly. | a first-year student at the university 4 more willingly: I'll never allow you to do that: I'll die first! 5 at first hand directly; FIRSTHAND: I got the news from her at first hand. 6 first among equals the person who leads a group of people but is not seen as being better or more important than the other members of the group 7 first and foremost most importantly; above all else: He's written many different kinds of books, but he's first and foremost a poet. 8 first of all as the first or most important thing: First of all let me say how glad I am to be here. | I'm interested in old coins but first of all I'm a stamp collector. 9 first off infml before other things: First off let's see where we agree and disagree. 10 first thing at the earliest time in the morning: I'll come round to collect it first thing tomorrow. 11 first things first let us take things in the proper order of importance 12 in the first instance especially BrE as the first act in a set of actions: