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backfire

2 ENTRIES FOUND:
  1. 1) backfire (noun)
  2. 2) backfire (verb)

1back·fire

noun \-ˌfī(-ə)r\

Definition of BACKFIRE

1
: a fire started to check an advancing fire by clearing an area
2
: a loud noise caused by the improperly timed explosion of fuel mixture in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine
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First Known Use of BACKFIRE

1839

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