Part 156

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.

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. [Obs.]

Till my bad angel fire my good one out.

Shak.

9. (Far.) To cauterize.

To fire up, to light up the fires of, as of an engine.

Fire, v. i. 1. To take fire; to be kindled; to kindle.

2. To be irritated or inflamed with passion.

3. To discharge artillery or firearms; as, they fired on the town.

To fire up, to grow irritated or angry. "He . . . fired up, and stood vigorously on his defense." Macaulay.

Fire"arm` (-‰rm`), n. A gun, pistol, or any weapon from which a shot is discharged by the force of an explosive substance, as gunpowder.

Fire"back` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) 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.

Fire"ball` (?), n. (a) (Mil.) A ball filled with powder or other combustibles, intended to be thrown among enemies, and to injure by explosion; also, to set fire to their works and light them up, so that movements may be seen. (b) A luminous meteor, resembling a ball of fire passing rapidly through the air, and sometimes exploding.

Fire"bare` (?), n. A beacon. [Obs.] Burrill.

Fire" bee`tle (?). (Zoˆl.) 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.

Fire"bird` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The Baltimore oriole.

Fire"board` (?), n. A chimney board or screen to close a fireplace when not in use.

Fire"bote` (?), n. (O. Eng. Law) An allowance of fuel. See Bote.

Fire"brand` (?), n. 1. A piece of burning wood. L'Estrange.

2. One who inflames factions, or causes contention and mischief; an incendiary. Bacon.