BACKFIRE

backfire, boomerang

(noun) a miscalculation that recoils on its maker

backfire

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

backfire

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

blowback, backfire

(noun) the backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired

backfire

(verb) set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire

backfire

(verb) emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire; “My old car backfires all the time”

backfire, backlash, recoil

(verb) come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect; “Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble”; “the political movie backlashed on the Democrats”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Etymology

Verb

backfire (third-person singular simple present backfires, present participle backfiring, simple past and past participle backfired)

(of a gun, cannon, Bunsen burner, etc.) To fire in the opposite direction, for example due to an obstruction in the barrel.

(of an engine) To experience a premature ignition of fuel or an ignition of exhaust gases, making a popping sound.

To fail in a manner that brings down further misfortune.

Noun

backfire (plural backfires)

(firefighting) Alternative spelling of back fire

A premature explosion in the cylinder of a gas or oil engine during the exhaust or the compression stroke, tending to drive the piston in the wrong direction.

An explosion in the exhaust passages of an internal combustion engine.

Synonyms

• (premature explosion in engine cylinder): knock, ping

Anagrams

• fireback

Source: Wiktionary

---

Back"-fire`, v. i.

1. (Engin.)

Definition: To have or experience a back fire or back fires; -- said of an internal-combustion engine.

2. Of a Bunsen or similar air-fed burner, to light so that the flame proceeds from the internal gas jet instead of from the external jet of mixed gas and air. -- Back"-fir`ing, n.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---

Do you know this game?

Wordscapes is a popular word game consistently in the top charts of both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The Android version has more than 10 million installs. This guide will help you get more coins in less than two minutes of playing the game. Continue reading Wordscapes: Get More Coins