[{"word":"backfire","phonetic":"/bækˈfaɪə(ɹ)/","phonetics":[{"text":"/bækˈfaɪə(ɹ)/","audio":""}],"meanings":[{"partOfSpeech":"noun","definitions":[{"definition":"A small, controlled fire set in the path of a larger uncontrolled fire, in order to limit the spread of the large fire by removing its fuel.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]},{"definition":"An explosion produced either by a running internal combustion engine that occurs in the air intake or exhaust system rather than inside the combustion chamber or unburned fuel or hydrocarbons ignited somewhere in the exhaust system.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]}],"synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]},{"partOfSpeech":"noun","definitions":[{"definition":"A premature explosion in the cylinder of a gas or oil engine during the exhaust or the compression stroke, tending to drive the piston in the wrong direction.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]},{"definition":"An explosion in the exhaust passages of an internal combustion engine.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]}],"synonyms":["knock","ping"],"antonyms":[]},{"partOfSpeech":"verb","definitions":[{"definition":"(of a gun, cannon, Bunsen burner, etc.) To fire in the opposite direction, for example due to an obstruction in the barrel.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]},{"definition":"(of an engine) To experience a premature ignition of fuel or an ignition of exhaust gases, making a popping sound.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]},{"definition":"To fail in a manner that brings down further misfortune.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[],"example":"His attempt to make money by importing luxury cars backfired horribly when fuel prices tripled."}],"synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]}],"license":{"name":"CC BY-SA 3.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0"},"sourceUrls":["https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/back%20fire","https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/backfire"]}]