backfire

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: back fire, blackfire, back-fire, backfile, backside, backfill, balefire, backbite, backfired, backfist, backline

Antonyms: back fire, blackfire, back-fire, backfile, backside, backfill, balefire, backbite, backfired, backfist, backline

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

1. 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.
2. {{senseid|en|exhaust}} An explosion in the exhaust passages of an [[internal combustion engine]].
3. An explosion in other equipment.
4. {{lb|en|firefighting}} {{alternative form of|en|back fire}}.

Verb

1. {{lb|en|intransitive}} Of a [[gun]], [[cannon]], [[Bunsen burner]], etc., to [[fire]] in the [[opposite]] [[direction]], for example due to an [[obstruction]] in the [[barrel]].
2. {{lb|en|intransitive}} Of a [[reciprocating engine]], to [[experience]] a [[premature]] [[ignition]] of [[fuel]] or an [[ignition]] of [[exhaust]] [[gas]]es, making a [[popping]] [[sound]].
3. {{lb|en|idiomatic|transitive}} To [[fail]] in a [[manner]] that [[bring down|brings down]] [[further]] [[misfortune]].
4. {{lb|en|firefighting}} To set a [[back fire]] {{gl|small, controlled fire to limit spread of a larger fire}}.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.