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- DictionaryBack·fire/ˈbakˌfī(ə)r/
verb
- 1. (of an engine) undergo a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust: "a car backfired in the road"
- 2. (of a plan or action) rebound adversely on the originator; have the opposite effect to what was intended: "overzealous publicity backfired on her"
noun
- 1. a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust of a vehicle or engine: "once the engine is running smoothly, a backfire can be dramatic"
- 2. a fire set intentionally to arrest the progress of an approaching fire by creating a burned area in its path, thus depriving the fire of fuel. North American
BACKFIRE definition: 1. (of a plan) to have the opposite result from the one you intended: 2. (of an engine) to make a…. Learn more.
The meaning of BACKFIRE is to have the reverse of the desired or expected effect. How to use backfire in a sentence.
BACKFIRE meaning: 1. (of a plan) to have the opposite result from the one you intended: 2. (of an engine) to make a…. Learn more.
an explosion of unburnt gases in the exhaust system. a premature explosion in a cylinder or inlet manifold. a controlled fire started to create a barren area that will halt an advancing forest or prairie fire.
Use the word backfire when you talk about the sound a car makes when a small explosion in its exhaust system pops — sometimes as loudly as a gunshot. Hearing a car's backfire can make you jump, because it makes a sharp, shot-like sound.
a premature ignition of fuel or an explosion of unburned exhaust gases in an internal-combustion engine, sometimes preventing the completion of the compression stroke and reversing the direction of the piston. 3. an explosive force toward the breech, rather than through the muzzle, of a firearm.
Definitions of 'backfire'. 1. If a plan or project backfires, it has the opposite result to the one that was intended. [...] 2. When a motor vehicle or its engine backfires, it produces an explosion in the exhaust pipe. [...] More.
