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backfire

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌbækˈfaɪə^r/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈbækˌfaɪr/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(bak′fī^ər′)

Inflections of 'backfire' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

backfires: v 3rd person singular

backfiring: v pres p

backfired: v past

backfired: v past p

back•fire /ˈbækˌfaɪr/USA pronunciation v., -fired, -fir•ing, n.
v. [no obj]

Automotive(of a car engine) to have a loud explosion that occurs too soon for proper combustion.
to have a result opposite to that expected;
go wrong.

n. [countable]

Automotive(in a car engine) an explosive igniting of fuel that occurs too soon for proper combustion.

back•fire (bak′fī^ər′),USA pronunciation v., -fired, -fir•ing, n.
v.i.

Automotive(of an internal-combustion engine) to have a loud, premature explosion in the intake manifold.
to bring a result opposite to that which was planned or expected:The plot backfired.
to start a fire deliberately in order to check a forest or prairie fire by creating a barren area in advance of it.

Automotive(in an internal-combustion engine) premature ignition of fuel in the intake manifold.
an explosion coming out of the breech of a firearm.
a fire started intentionally to check the advance of a forest or prairie fire.

back² + fire 1775–85, American.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

backfire /ˌbækˈfaɪə/ vb (intransitive)

(of an internal-combustion engine) to emit a loud noise as a result of an explosion in the inlet manifold or exhaust system
to start a controlled fire in order to halt an advancing forest or prairie fire by creating a barren area

(in an internal-combustion engine) an explosion of unburnt gases in the exhaust system
a controlled fire started to create a barren area that will halt an advancing forest or prairie fire

'backfire' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

boomerang - misfire

Synonyms: burst, erupt, detonate, explode, boomerang, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "backfire" in the title:

All of her attempts backfire
as likely to backfire as succeed
backfire - uncountable?
Backfire or misfire
backfire with the public
backfire: a right word in this context?
Backlash vs. backfire vs. recoil
That such a lethal soundbite might backfire one day was lost

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⇱ backfire - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

backfire