| fir | <botany> A genus (Abies) of coniferous trees, often of large size and elegant shape, some of them valued for their timber and others for their resin. The species are distinguished as the balsam fir, the silver fir, the red fir, etc. The Scoth fir is a Pinus. Fir in the Bible means any one of several coniferous trees, including, cedar, cypress, and probably three species of pine. Origin: Dan. Fyr, fyrr; akin to Sw. Furu, Icel. Fura, AS. Furh in furhwudu fir wood, G. Fohre, OHG. Forha pine, vereheih a sort of oak, L. Quercus ak. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| fir tree | See Fir. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fire | 1. The evolution of light and heat in the combustion of bodies; combustion; state of ignition. The form of fire exhibited in the combustion of gases in an ascending stream or current is called flame. Anciently, fire, air, earth, and water were regarded as the four elements of which all things are composed. 2. Fuel in a state of combustion, as on a hearth, or in stove or a furnace. 3. The burning of a house or town; a conflagration. 4. Anything which destroys or affects like fire. 5. Ardor of passion, whether love or hate; excessive warmth; consumingviolence of temper. "he had fire in his temper.Atterbury." 6. Liveliness of imagination or fancy; intellectual and moral enthusiasm; capacity for ardor and zeal. "And bless their critic with a poet's fire.Pope." 7. Splendor; brilliancy; luster; hence, a star. "Stars, hide your fires.Shak." "As in a zodiac" "representing the heavenly fires.Milton." 8. Torture by burning; severe trial or affliction. 9. The discharge of firearms; firing; as, the troops were exposed to a heavy fire. Blue fire, Red fire, Green fire, the process of softening or cracking the working face of a lode, to facilitate excavation, by exposing it to the action of fire; now generally superseded by the use of explosives. Fire ship, a vessel filled with combustibles, for setting fire to an enemy's ships. Fire shovel, a shovel for taking up coals of fire. Fire stink, the stench from decomposing iron pyrites, caused by the formation of sulphureted hydrogen. Fire surface, the surfaces of a steam boiler which are exposed to the direct heat of the fuel and the products of combustion; heating surface. Fire swab, a swab saturated with water, for cooling a gun in action and clearing away particles of powder, etc. Fire teaser, in England, the fireman of a steam emgine. Fire water, ardent spirits; so called by the American Indians. Fire worship, the worship of fire, which prevails chiefly in Persia, among the followers of Zoroaster, called Chebers, or Guebers, and among the Parsees of India. Greek fire. See Greek. On fire, burning; hence, ardent; passionate; eager; zealous. Running fire, the rapid discharge of firearms in succession by a line of troops. St. Anthony's fire, erysipelas; an eruptive fever which St. Anthony was supposed to cure miraculously. St. Elmo's fire. See Saint Elmo. To set on fire, to inflame; to kindle. To take fire, to begin to burn; to fly into a passion. Origin: OE. Fir, fyr, fur AS. Fr; akin to D. Vuur, OS. & OHG. Fiur, G. Feuer, Icel. Fri, frr, Gr, and perh. To L. Purus pure, E. Pure Cf. Empyrean, Pyre. 1. To set on fire; to kindle; as, to fire a house or chimney; to fire a pile. 2. To subject to intense heat; to bake; to burn in a kiln; as, to fire pottery. 3. To inflame; to irritate, as the passions; as, to fire the soul with anger, pride, or revenge. "Love had fired my mind." (Dryden) 4. To animate; to give life or spirit to; as, to fire the genius of a young man. 5. To feed or serve the fire of; as, to fire a boiler. 6. To light up as if by fire; to illuminate. "[The sun] fires the proud tops of the eastern pines." (Shak) 7. To cause to explode; as, to fire a torpedo; to disharge; as, to fire a musket or cannon; to fire cannon balls, rockets, etc. 8. To drive by fire. "Till my bad angel fire my good one out." (Shak) 9. <veterinary> To cauterize. To fire up, to light up the fires of, as of an engine. Origin: Fired; Fring. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fire ant stings | A scourge, these red or yellow ants of small-to-medium size, originally from South America, have a severe sting that burns like fire. Their sting like that of bees, yellow jackets, hornets and wasps -- can trigger allergic reactions varying greatly in severity. Avoidance and prompt treatment are essential. In selected cases, allergy injection therapy is highly effective. (The three A's of insect allergy are Adrenaline, Avoidance and Allergist.) (12 Dec 1998) |
| fire ants | Originally from S. America. Among the worst insect pests ever to invade the U.S. Red or yellowish ants of small-to-medium size with a severe sting that burns like fire. They normally feed on small insects but, with denser populations, they eat seeds and seedling plants, damage grain and vegetable crops, invade kitchens, attack newly hatched poultry and the young of ground-nesting wild b irds. Fire ants can kill newborn domestic and wild animals. Each colony is composed of a queen, winged males and females and 3 kinds of workers. A nest averages about 25,000 workers, but far larger populations are common. Semipermanent nests are large mounds of excavated soil with openings for ventilation. Since nests may number 50-100 (or more) in a heavily infested field, cultivating becomes difficult (or impossible). Fire ants belong to the genus Solenopsis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fire beetle | <zoology> A very brilliantly luminous beetle (Pyrophorus noctilucus), one of the elaters, found in Central and South America; called also cucujo. The name is also applied to other species. See Firefly. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fire extinguishing systems | Automatic or hand operated equipment used to control and extinguish fires. (12 Dec 1998) |
| firearms | Small-arms weapons, including handguns, pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fireback | <zoology> One of several species of pheasants of the genus Euplocamus, having the lower back a bright, fiery red. They inhabit Southern Asia and the East Indies. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| firebird | <zoology> The Baltimore oriole. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| firebrand | 1. A piece of burning wood. 2. One who inflames factions, or causes contention and mischief; an incendiary. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| firecrest | <zoology> A small European kinglet (Regulus ignicapillus), having a bright red crest. Synonym: fire-crested wren. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| firedamp | Methane or other light hydrocarbons forming an explosive mixture when mixed with 7 or 8 volumes of air. (05 Mar 2000) |
| firedog | A support for wood in a fireplace; an andiron. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| firefish | <zoology> A singular marine fish of the genus Pterois, family Scorpaenidae, of several species, inhabiting the Indo-Pacific region. They are usually red, and have very large spinose pectoral and dorsal fins. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| riga fir | <botany> A species of pine (Pinus sylvestris), and its wood, which affords a valuable timber; called also Scotch pine, and red or yellow deal. It grows in all parts of Europe, in the Caucasus, and in Siberia. Origin: So called from Riga, a city in Russia. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| sea fir | <zoology> A sertularian hydroid, especially Sertularia abietina, which branches like a miniature fir tree. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| joint-fir | <botany> A genus (Ephedra) of leafless shrubs, with the stems conspicuously jointed; called also shrubby horsetail. There are about thirty species, of which two or three are found from Texas to California. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |