fire
FIRE scores 7 points in Scrabble: F is worth 4, while I, R, and E add 1 point each.
Noun 4 meanings
A (usually self-sustaining) chemical reaction involving the bonding of oxygen with carbon or other fuel, with the production of heat and the presence of flame or smouldering.
An instance of this chemical reaction, especially when intentionally created and maintained in a specific location to a useful end (such as a campfire or a hearth fire).
“We sat about the fire singing songs and telling tales.”
The occurrence, often accidental, of fire in a certain place, causing damage and danger.
“There was a fire at the school last night and the whole place burned down.”
The aforementioned chemical reaction of burning, considered one of the Classical elements or basic elements of alchemy.
Verb 4 meanings
To set (something, often a building) on fire.
To heat as with fire, but without setting on fire, as ceramic, metal objects, etc.
“If you fire the pottery at too high a temperature, it may crack.”
To drive away by setting a fire.
To terminate the employment contract of (an employee), especially for cause (such as misconduct, incompetence, or poor performance).
Interjection 1 meaning
Command to shoot with firearms.
Etymology
From Middle English fyr, from Old English fȳr (“fire”), from Proto-West Germanic *fuir, from *fuïr, a regularised form of Proto-Germanic *fōr (“fire”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥.
Similar and opposite words
FIRE is a common four-letter English word for combustion, a deliberately tended flame, or an uncontrolled blaze. Its 7-point tile value comes mostly from F; the other three tiles contribute one point apiece. Rearranging those letters makes three anagrams, while changing one tile opens a much larger set of neighbors.
What is the FIRE Scrabble score?
- FIRE scores 7 points before any board bonuses.
- F supplies 4 points; I, R, and E each supply 1.
- RIFE, REIF, and FIER are the three anagrams.
- FIVE, FINE, FIRM, and FILE are familiar one-letter neighbors.
What does FIRE mean, and what are its anagrams?
FIRE means a chemical reaction that releases heat and produces flame or smouldering. The word also names the flame itself, a contained blaze such as a hearth fire, or a damaging accidental blaze. Those senses share the same core idea: burning fuel.
RIFE, REIF, and FIER use the same four letters in different orders. RIFE is the most familiar everyday option; REIF and FIER are much less likely to come to mind during a quick rack search. Treat the unusual forms as rare plays, not as ordinary substitutes for FIRE.
The rhyme family is broader than the anagram set: FIRE shares its ending with words including WIRE, HIRE, TIRE, DESIRE, and ENTIRE. That repeating “ire” sound connects short, familiar words with longer ones.
Which words are one letter away from FIRE?
There are 22 one-letter neighbors of FIRE. FIVE, FINE, FIRM, and FILE keep the opening F; WIRE, HIRE, and TIRE keep the final three letters. Those common examples are easier to spot than less familiar neighbors such as FICE, FIKE, or FIRN.
For a rack search, hold three letters steady and test each position before rearranging the whole rack. FIRE has a useful spread: changing the first letter gives WIRE or HIRE, while changing the last gives FIVE, FINE, FIRM, or FILE. Check the game's dictionary when a candidate looks unfamiliar; a neighbor list is not a promise that every word suits every game.
For FIRE meaning and play details, keep the definition separate from the score: the base value stays 7, but a premium square can change the points you earn. F is the tile to place strategically, since its 4 points outweigh any one of the other letters.
Rhymes with fire
All rhymesOne letter away
Questions people ask
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