Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Wildfire

Wild′fire

,
Noun.
1.
A composition of inflammable materials, which, kindled, is very hard to quench; Greek fire.
Brimstone, pitch,
wildfire
. . . burn cruelly, and hard to quench.
Bacon.
2.
(Med.)
(a)
An old name for erysipelas.
(b)
A disease of sheep, attended with inflammation of the skin.
3.
A sort of lightning unaccompanied by thunder.
[R.]

Webster 1828 Edition


Wildfire

WILDFIRE

,
Noun.
[wild and fire.]
1.
A composition of inflammable materials.
Brimstone, pitch, wildfire, burn easily, and are hard to quench.
2.
A disease of sheep, attended with inflammation of the skin; a kind of erysipelas.

Definition 2024


wildfire

wildfire

English

A wildfire

Noun

wildfire (countable and uncountable, plural wildfires)

  1. A rapidly spreading fire, especially one occurring in a wildland area.
  2. (historical) Greek fire, Byzantine fire.
  3. A spreading disease of the skin, particularly erysipelas.
  4. (figuratively) Something that acts quickly and uncontrollably.
    • 2015 January 18, Monty Munford, “What’s the point of carrying a mobile phone nowadays?”, in The Daily Telegraph:
      So, it appears a revolution has happened and a very unexpected one. Of course it was only a matter of time before it happened. With WiFi connectivity spreading faster than wildfire and a laptop or tablet in one’s bag, what’s the point of a mobile nowadays?

Quotations

  • 1622, Thomas Dekker and Philip Massinger, The Virgin Martyr
    The.     Do not blow,
    The Furnace of a wrath thrice hot already;
    Ætna is in my brest, wildfire burns here,
    Which onely bloud must quench ...
  • 1715, Floyer, Edward Baynard, Psychrolousia. Or, the History of Cold Bathing: Both Ancient and Modern
    Where are [...] the Aunts that do as much for their Nieces, and make them caper and sparkle like Wildfire?
  • 1715, Francisco de Quevedo, The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo
    I slept very disturbedly, and had a quick high towring Pulse; had strange Flashes in my Blood, like Wild-fire, which I could perceive in my Face, Neck, Breast, and extream Parts.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

See also

References

  • 1862, Martim de Albuquerque, Notes and Queries.
  • “Greek Fire”, in (Please provide the title of the work), Classic Encyclopedia, 30 October 2006, retrieved 2008-12-23