<B>fire test,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a test to determine the temperature at which kerosene or other oils begin to burn. <DD><B> 2. </B>the process of subjecting pottery, concrete, or brick to various degrees of heat to test their relative hardness or fire-resistant properties. </DL>
<A NAME="firethorn">
<B>firethorn, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> any one of a group of thorny, red-fruited, evergreen shrubs of the rose family found in Asia, Europe, and America, and often cultivated as a hedge. </DL>
<A NAME="firetower">
<B>fire tower,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a tower from which forest rangers can watch for forest fires and give the alarm. </DL>
<A NAME="firetrap">
<B>firetrap, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a building that would be hard to get out of if it were on fire. <DD><B> 2. </B>a building that could burn very easily. </DL>
<A NAME="firetrench">
<B>fire trench,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a trench composed of connected bays in which men are protected while firing. </DL>
<A NAME="firetruck">
<B>fire truck,</B> =fire engine.</DL>
<A NAME="firetube">
<B>fire tube,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a tube or flue in a steam boiler, used for the passage of the flame and heated gas. </DL>
<A NAME="firewall">
<B>fire wall,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a wall of fire-resistant material in or around a building or other structure. <DD><B> 2. </B>a plate of fireproof material behind the engine of an aircraft or automobile to confine a possible fire. </DL>
<A NAME="firewarden">
<B>firewarden, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S.) an official whose duty is preventing and putting out fires in towns, forests, camps, and buildings. </DL>
<B>fireweed, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> any one of various weeds that often appear on land recently burned over, especially a tall plant of the evening-primrose family, with magenta flowers, found all over the United States and in Canada. It is the official flower of the Yukon Territory. </DL>
<A NAME="firewheel">
<B>fire wheel,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a gaillardia; blanketflower. </DL>
<A NAME="firewood">
<B>firewood, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> wood to make a fire. </DL>
<A NAME="firework">
<B>firework, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a firecracker, skyrocket, or other pyrotechnic device, that makes a loud noise or a beautiful fiery display at night. <BR> <I>Ex. It was a firework, mate, a Bengal light (Punch).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="fireworks">
<B>fireworks, </B>noun pl.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>firecrackers, skyrockets, and other things that make a loud noise or a beautiful fiery display at night. <DD><B> 2. </B>a fireworks display. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Informal, Figurative.) an outburst or display of fiery emotions, such as a heated controversy. <DD><B> 4. </B>(Informal.) any spectacular display. <BR> <I>Ex. the soprano's coloratura fireworks.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="fireworm">
<B>fireworm, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the larva of a small North American moth that feeds on cranberry leaves. <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=glowworm.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="firing">
<B>firing, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the act or process of setting on fire; catching fire. <BR> <I>Ex. Those meetings led to the firing and pulling down of houses (William Cobbett).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>the act, process, or effect of discharging a gun, mine, or other explosive device. <DD><B> 3. </B>preparation, baking, or curing by heat. <BR> <I>Ex. The firing of the pottery took a full 24 hours.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>the feeding and tending of a fire or furnace. <DD><B> 5. </B><B>=cauterization.</B> <DD><B> 6. </B>material for a fire; fuel. <BR> <I>Ex. I ... brought home firing sufficient for ... several days (Mary Shelley).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="firingglass">
<B>firing glass,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a wineglass made in England and elsewhere from 1740 to 1800 which had a heavy base to rap on the table in response to a toast. It made a sound like a gun firing. </DL>
<A NAME="firingline">
<B>firing line,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a line where soldiers are stationed to shoot at the enemy or target. <DD><B> 2. </B>the soldiers on such a line. <DD><B> 3. </B>the foremost position in a controversy, campaign for a cause, or the like. </DL>
<A NAME="firingparty">
<B>firing party,</B> =firing squad.</DL>
<A NAME="firingpin">
<B>firing pin,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the part of the mechanism of a firearm, cannon, mine, or other explosive device, that sets off the detonator to explode the charge. </DL>
<A NAME="firingrange">
<B>firing range,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>an area used for practice in shooting or in firing guns or missiles. <DD><B> 2. </B>the distance within which a gun is effective. <BR> <I>Ex. The enemy was within firing range.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="firingsquad">
<B>firing squad,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a detachment of troops, usually a squad, designated to fire the salute at a military burial service or to shoot to death a person condemned to be shot. </DL>
<A NAME="firkin">
<B>firkin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a quarter of a barrel, used in Great Britain as a measure of capacity. A firkin equals either about 9 imperial gallons or about 56 pounds. <DD><B> 2. </B>a small wooden cask for liquids, fish, butter, and other commodity. </DL>
<A NAME="firm">
<B>firm</B> (1), adjective, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>not yielding easily when pressed; solid; hard. <BR> <I>Ex. firm flesh, firm ground.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>not easily shaken or moved; fixed in place. <BR> <I>Ex. a tree firm in the earth. Hope, as an anchor firm and sure, holds fast the Christian vessel and defies the blast (William Cowper).</I> (SYN) fast, secure, immovable, stable. <DD><B> 3. </B>steady in motion or action. <BR> <I>Ex. a firm step, a firm grasp.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>not easily changed; determined; resolute; positive. <BR> <I>Ex. a firm purpose, a firm character, a firm belief.</I> <DD><B> 5. </B>not changing; staying the same; stable. <BR> <I>Ex. a firm price.</I> (SYN) enduring, constant, steady. <DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to make firm; solidify. <BR> <I>Ex. to firm the soil around a newly planted tree.</I> <DD><B> 2a. </B>to set or fix firmly in place. <BR> <I>Ex. to firm a flagpole in its socket.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>to hold (a thing) fast. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Obsolete.) <DD><B> a. </B>to establish, settle, or confirm (a person, etc.). <DD><B> b. </B>to encourage. <DD><I>v.i. </I> to become firm. adv. <B>firmly.</B> noun <B>firmness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="firm">
<B>firm</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a company of two or more persons in business together. It is distinguished from a corporation in that it is not considered a legal person. <DD><B> 2. </B>the name or title used by such a company or partnership. <BR> <I>Ex. the firm of Black and Sons.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>any business concern. </DL>
<A NAME="firmament">
<B>firmament, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the arch or vault of the heavens; sky. </DL>
<A NAME="firmamental">
<B>firmamental, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having to do with the firmament or upper regions; celestial. </DL>
<A NAME="firman">
<B>firman, </B>noun, pl. <B>-mans.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an order issued by an Oriental ruler, especially by a Turkish sultan. </DL>
<A NAME="firmbid">
<B>firm bid,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a commitment to buy a specified amount at a specified price within a specified time. </DL>
<A NAME="firmer">
<B>firmer, </B>adjective, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>adj. </I> of or having to do with chisels, gouges, and other woodworking tools driven by blows of a mallet. <DD><I>noun </I> a firmer chisel. </DL>
<A NAME="firmerchisel">
<B>firmer chisel,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a chisel for use with wood, having a broad, thin blade with a sharp edge. </DL>
<A NAME="firmoffer">
<B>firm offer,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a commitment to sell a specified amount at a specified price within a specified time. </DL>
<A NAME="firmpower">
<B>firm power,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> electric power supplied, or to be supplied, at all times by a generating unit, in contrast to power which may be interrupted in times of adverse generating conditions. </DL>
<A NAME="firmware">
<B>firmware, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> computer programs that are stored permanently, usually in a read-only memory. </DL>
