Translate backfire | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of backfire
verb
[no object] 1(of an engine) undergo a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust:a car backfired in the road
2(of a plan or action) rebound adversely on the originator; have the opposite effect to what was intended:overzealous publicity backfired on her
noun
1a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust of a vehicle or engine.
2a fire set intentionally to arrest the progress of an approaching fire by creating a burned area in its path, thus depriving the fire of fuel.
