firing

/ˈfaɪərɪŋ/

/ˈfaɪərɪŋ/

Other forms: firings

Definitions of firing

1. noun

   the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
   synonyms: fire

   types:

   antiaircraft fire

   firing at enemy aircraft

   barrage, barrage fire, battery, bombardment, shelling

   the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area rather than hit a specific target

   broadside

   the simultaneous firing of all the armament on one side of a warship

   burst, fusillade, salvo, volley

   rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms

   call fire

   fire delivered on a specific target in response to a request from the supported unit

   cover, covering fire

   fire that makes it difficult for the enemy to fire on your own individuals or formations

   concentrated fire, massed fire

   fire from two or more weapons directed at a single target or area (as fire by batteries of two or more warships)

   counterfire

   fire intended to neutralize or destroy enemy weapons

   counterpreparation fire

   intensive prearranged fire delivered when the immanence of enemy attack is discovered

   crossfire

   fire from two or more points so that the lines of fire cross

   destruction fire

   fire delivered for the sole purpose of destroying material objects

   direct fire

   fire delivered on a target that is visible to the person aiming it

   distributed fire

   fire dispersed so as to engage effectively an area target

   fratricide, friendly fire

   fire that injures or kills an ally

   hostile fire

   fire that injures or kills an enemy

   grazing fire

   fire approximately parallel to the ground; the center of the cone of fire does rise above 1 meter from the ground

   harassing fire

   fire designed to disturb the rest of enemy troops and to curtail movement and to lower enemy morale

   indirect fire

   fire delivered on a target that is not itself used as the point of aim for the weapons

   interdiction fire

   fire directed to an area to prevent the enemy from using that area

   neutralization fire

   fire that is delivered in order to render the target ineffective or unusable

   observed fire

   fire for which the point of impact (the burst) can be seen by an observer; fire can be adjusted on the basis of the observations

   preparation fire

   fire delivered on a target in preparation for an assault

   radar fire

   gunfire aimed a target that is being tracked by radar

   registration fire

   fire delivered to obtain accurate data for subsequent effective engagement of targets

   scheduled fire

   prearranged fire delivered at a predetermined time

   searching fire

   fire distributed in depth by successive changes in the elevation of the gun

   supporting fire

   fire delivered by supporting units to protect or assist a unit in combat

   suppressive fire

   fire on or about a weapon system to degrade its performance below what is needed to fulfill its mission objectives

   unobserved fire

   fire for which the point of impact (the bursts) cannot be observed

   artillery fire, cannon fire

   fire delivered by artillery

   close supporting fire

   fire on enemy troops or weapons or positions that are near the supported unit and are the most immediate and serious threat to it

   deep supporting fire

   fire on objectives not in the immediate vicinity of your forces but with the objective of destroying enemy reserves and weapons and interfering with the enemy command and supply and communications

   direct supporting fire

   fire delivered in support of part of a force (as opposed to general supporting fire delivered in support of the force as a whole)

   counterbattery fire

   fire delivered to neutralize or destroy indirect fire weapon systems

   counterbombardment

   bombardment intended to destroy or neutralize enemy weapons

   countermortar fire

   mortar fire intended to destroy or neutralize enemy weapons

   cannonade, drumfire

   intense and continuous artillery fire

   high-angle fire

   fire from a cannon that is fired at an elevation greater than that for the maximum range

   mortar fire

   artillery fire delivered by a mortar

   zone fire

   artillery or mortar fire delivered in a constant direction at several quadrant elevations

   type of:

   attack, onrush, onset, onslaught

   (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
2. noun

   the act of discharging a gun
   synonyms: discharge, firing off

   types:

   gun

   the discharge of a firearm as signal or as a salute in military ceremonies

   type of:

   shooting, shot

   the act of firing a projectile
3. noun

   the termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)
   synonyms: discharge, dismissal, dismission, heave-ho, liberation, release, sack, sacking

   types:

   superannuation

   the act of discharging someone because of age (especially to cause someone to retire from service on a pension)

   conge, congee

   an abrupt and unceremonious dismissal

   removal

   dismissal from office

   deactivation, inactivation

   breaking up a military unit (by transfers or discharges)

   honorable discharge

   a discharge from the armed forces with a commendable record

   dishonorable discharge

   a discharge from the armed forces for a grave offense (as sabotage or espionage or cowardice or murder)

   Section Eight

   a discharge from the US Army based on unfitness or character traits deemed undesirable

   purge

   an abrupt or sudden removal of a person or group from an organization or place

   type of:

   conclusion, ending, termination

   the act of ending something
4. noun

   the act of setting something on fire
   synonyms: ignition, inflammation, kindling, lighting

   type of:

   burning, combustion

   the act of burning something