back·fire (b k f r )n. 1. An explosion of prematurely ignited fuel or of unburned exhaust gases in an internal-combustion engine. 2. The backward escape of gases or cartridge fragments when a gun is fired. 3. A fire started in the path of an oncoming fire in order to deprive it of fuel and thereby control or extinguish it. intr.v. back·fired, back·fir·ing, back·fires 1. To explode in the manner of or make the sound of a backfire. 2. To start or use a backfire in extinguishing or controlling a forest fire. 3. To produce an unexpected, undesired result. |
backfire [ˌbækˈfaɪə]
vb (intr)
1. (Engineering / Automotive Engineering) (of an internal-combustion engine) to emit a loud noise as a result of an explosion in the inlet manifold or exhaust system
2. to fail to have the desired or expected effect his plans backfired on him
3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Forestry) to start a controlled fire in order to halt an advancing forest or prairie fire by creating a barren area
n
1. (Engineering / Automotive Engineering) (in an internal-combustion engine)
a. an explosion of unburnt gases in the exhaust system
b. a premature explosion in a cylinder or inlet manifold
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Forestry) a controlled fire started to create a barren area that will halt an advancing forest or prairie fire
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | backfire - the backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired blowup, detonation, explosion - a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction back-blast, backblast - backfire from a recoilless weapon |
| 2. | backfire - a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine blowup, detonation, explosion - a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction | |
| 3. | backfire - a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path fire - the event of something burning (often destructive); "they lost everything in the fire" | |
| 4. |  backfire - a miscalculation that recoils on its maker | |
| Verb | 1. | backfire - come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect; "Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble" hap, happen, occur, come about, take place, go on, pass off, fall out, pass - come to pass; "What is happening?"; "The meeting took place off without an incidence"; "Nothing occurred that seemed important" |
| 2. |  backfire - emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire; "My old car backfires all the time" | |
| 3. | backfire - set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire |
backfire
Translations
backfire [ˌbækˈfaɪər] vi
[plans, strategy, tactics] → avoir l'effet inverse que prévu
to backfire on sb → se retourner contre qn
to backfire on sb → se retourner contre qn
backfire [ˈbækˈfaɪəʳ] vi (Aut) → avere un ritorno di fiamma (fig) (plan, policy) → avere effetto contrario
to backfire on sb → ritorcersi contro qn
backfire [ˈbækˈfaɪəʳ] vi (Aut) → avere un ritorno di fiamma (fig) (plan, policy) → avere effetto contrario
to backfire on sb → ritorcersi contro qn
to backfire on sb → ritorcersi contro qn
backfire [ˈbækˈfaɪəʳ] vi (Aut) → avere un ritorno di fiamma (fig) (plan, policy) → avere effetto contrario
to backfire on sb → ritorcersi contro qn
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