wildfire

[ wahyld-fahyuhr ]

noun

1. any large fire in brush, forests, or open spaces that spreads rapidly and is hard to extinguish.
2. a highly flammable composition, such as Greek fire, difficult to extinguish when ignited, formerly used in warfare.
3. sheet lightning, unaccompanied by thunder.
4. the ignis fatuus or a similar light.
5. Plant Pathology. a disease of tobacco and soybeans, characterized by brown, necrotic spots, each surrounded by a yellow band, on the leaves and caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas tabaci.
6. Pathology Obsolete. erysipelas or some similar disease.

wildfire

/ ˈwaɪldˌfaɪə /

noun

1. a highly flammable material, such as Greek fire, formerly used in warfare
2. 1. a raging and uncontrollable fire
   2. anything that is disseminated quickly (esp in the phrase spread like wildfire )
3. lightning without audible thunder
4. another name for will-o'-the-wisp

Word History and Origins

Origin of wildfire¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English wildefire, Old English wildfȳr; equivalent to wild + fire

Idioms and Phrases

see spread like wildfire .

Example Sentences

Some were struggling under the concussions of wildfires and drought.

From Salon

Many — who have had several close calls with wildfire before — knew instantly that this could spell disaster.

From Los Angeles Times

“When we can’t stop it in Texas, then it kind of spreads like wildfire.”

From Salon

Fire crews on both coasts of the United States continued to battle wildfires this weekend, with flames claiming lives and property from New Jersey to Southern California.

From Salon

The governor also will be advocating for disaster-related funding, including for wildfires.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blaze
• conflagration
• flare
• flash
• light
• spark