fire

/fɑɪər/ n [C/U] (FLAMES)

Definition

› the state of burning, or a burning mass of material: [U] The factory had to be closed because the risk of fire was too great. [C] There have been a lot of forest fires because of the drought. [C] The library was badly damaged in the fire. [U] The theater was destroyed by fire. [C] Over a hundred volunteers were needed to put out the fire (= stop it). › A fire is also a small controlled mass of burning material that is used for heating or cooking: [C] Light a fire in the fireplace. on fire › If something is on fire, it is burning, esp. when it is not meant to be: By the time the firefighters arrived, the whole house was on fire.

(Definition of fire n (FLAMES) from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)