Overview of noun backfire

The noun backfire has 4 senses

• blowback, backfire -- (the backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired)


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


• 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)


• backfire, boomerang -- (a miscalculation that recoils on its maker)

Overview of verb backfire

The verb backfire has 3 senses

• backfire, backlash, recoil -- (come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect; "Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble")


• backfire -- (emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire; "My old car backfires all the time")


• backfire -- (set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire)