The Meaning of backfire

• (noun) a miscalculation that recoils on its maker
• (noun) a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path
• (noun) a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine
• (noun) the backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired
• (verb) set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire
• (verb) emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire; "My old car backfires all the time"
• (verb) come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect; "Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble"

Synonyms

blowback , boomerang , backlash , recoil

Rhymes

admire , afire , alkire , aspire , beijer , berkshire , biedermeier , crossfire , devonshire , dire , dwire , eir , esquire , expire , fire , frymire , gire , glenayre , guire , gunfire , gyr , haywire , hellfire , hire , hyre , inquire , inspire , ire , izaguirre , lancashire , lyre , maguire , martyre , mcguire , mcintire , mcquire , mire , myre , perspire , quire , reacquire , require , retire , safire , schreyer , scire , shire , shropshire , skier , smyre , spire , squire , tyre , untermeyer , whitmire , wiltshire , wire , wyre