BACKFIRE
Dictionary entry overview: What does backfire mean?
• BACKFIRE (noun)
The noun BACKFIRE has 4 senses:
1. the backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired
2. a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine
3. a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path
4. a miscalculation that recoils on its maker
Familiarity information: BACKFIRE used as a noun is uncommon.
• BACKFIRE (verb)
The verb BACKFIRE has 3 senses:
1. come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect
2. emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire
3. set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire
Familiarity information: BACKFIRE used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• BACKFIRE (noun)
Meaning:
The backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
blowback; backfire
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)
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)
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))
Meaning:
A miscalculation that recoils on its maker
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
boomerang; backfire
Hypernyms ("backfire" is a kind of...):
miscalculation; misestimation; misreckoning (a mistake in calculating)
• BACKFIRE (verb)
Meaning:
Come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
backfire; backlash; recoil
Context example:
Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble
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
Meaning:
Emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Context example:
My old car backfires all the time
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
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
