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backfire

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: backfire

1
 nv
a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine
emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire
2
 vn
come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect
a miscalculation that recoils on its maker
3
 nv
a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path
set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: backfire
1

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

Type of:
blowup, detonation, explosion
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction

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

Synonyms:
blowback
Types:
back-blast, backblast
backfire from a recoilless weapon
Type of:
blowup, detonation, explosion
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction

v emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire

“My old car backfires all the time”
Type of:
make noise, noise, resound
emit a noise
2

v come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect

“Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble”
Synonyms:
backlash, recoil
Type of:
come about, fall out, go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, pass off, take place
come to pass

n a miscalculation that recoils on its maker

Synonyms:
boomerang
Type of:
miscalculation, misestimation, misreckoning
a mistake in calculating
3

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

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

v set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire

Type of:
burn, burn down, fire
destroy by fire
Launch
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