	Site Map \| FAQ in Daily Almanac for Nov 27, 2009
Skip Navigation Home American Indian Heritage Month Atlas Encyclopedia Dictionary Thesaurus Features Quizzes Timelines Countries Slideshows

Fact Monster Kid's reference,
games, quizzes

Editor's Favorites

Dictionary

back•fire

Pronunciation: (bak'fī^ur"), [key]
—v., -fired, -fir•ing,
—n.

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

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

backfill

backfist

See also:

backfire (Thesaurus)

Dictionary

back•fire

Related Content