| backfire | (n) a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine |
| backfire | (n) a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path |
| backfire | (n) a miscalculation that recoils on its maker, Syn. boomerang |
| backfire | (v) come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect, Syn. recoil, backlash, Example: Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble |
| backfire | (v) emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire, Example: My old car backfires all the time |
| backfire | (v) set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire |