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Intermediate Dictionary      

back·fire

backfire

 
 
parts of speech:
verb, noun
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part of speech: verb
pronunciation: baek faIr
inflections: backfires, backfiring, backfired
definition 1: to give off a loud explosive noise that means the engine of a car or other vehicle is not working properly.
similar words:
bang, explode
definition 2: to have results that are the opposite of what one wanted.
Her plans to become president of the company backfired, and she lost her job.
 
part of speech: noun
pronunciation: baek faIr
definition: a noisy explosion that occurs in a gasoline engine that is not working properly.
similar words:
bang, explosion
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