Library / English Dictionary

BACKFIRE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A miscalculation that recoils on its maker

Synonyms:

backfire; boomerang

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("backfire" is a kind of...):

miscalculation; misestimation; misreckoning (a mistake in calculating)

Derivation:

backfire (come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("backfire" is a kind of...):

fire (the event of something burning (often destructive))

Sense 3

Meaning:

A loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("backfire" is a kind of...):

blowup; detonation; explosion (a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction)

Derivation:

backfire (emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired

Synonyms:

backfire; blowback

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("backfire" is a kind of...):

blowup; detonation; explosion (a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "backfire"):

back-blast; backblast (backfire from a recoilless weapon)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "backfire" is one way to...):

burn; burn down; fire (destroy by fire)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire

Example:

My old car backfires all the time

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "backfire" is one way to...):

make noise; noise; resound (emit a noise)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence example:

The cars backfire down the avenue

Derivation:

backfire (a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect

Example:

the political movie backlashed on the Democrats

Synonyms:

backfire; backlash; recoil

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "backfire" is one way to...):

come about; fall out; go on; hap; happen; occur; pass; pass off; take place (come to pass)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

backfire (a miscalculation that recoils on its maker)

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