from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Fire \Fire\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fired}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Fring}.]
1. To set on fire; to kindle; as, to fire a house or chimney;
to fire a pile.
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2. To subject to intense heat; to bake; to burn in a kiln;
as, to fire pottery.
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3. To inflame; to irritate, as the passions; as, to fire the
soul with anger, pride, or revenge.
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Love had fired my mind. --Dryden.
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4. To animate; to give life or spirit to; as, to fire the
genius of a young man.
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5. To feed or serve the fire of; as, to fire a boiler.
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6. To light up as if by fire; to illuminate.
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[The sun] fires the proud tops of the eastern pines.
--Shak.
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7. To cause to explode; as, to fire a torpedo; to disharge;
as, to fire a rifle, pistol, or cannon; to fire cannon
balls, rockets, etc.
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8. To drive by fire. [Obs.]
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Till my bad angel fire my good one out. --Shak.
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9. (Far.) To cauterize.
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10. to dismiss from employment, a post, or other job; to
cause (a person) to cease being an employee; -- of a
person. The act of firing is usually performed by that
person's supervisor or employer. "You can't fire me! I
quit!"
[PJC]
{To fire up},
1. to light up the fires of, as of an engine; also,
figuratively, to start up any machine.
2. to render enthusiastic; -- of people.
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