The backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired.

synonym: blowback.

Roget 388a: insulation, incombustible material, noncombustible material; fire retardant, flame retardant; fire wall, fire door.    incombustibility, incombustibleness etc. adj.. extincteur [Fr.]; fire annihilator; amianth^†, amianthus^†; earth-flax, mountain-flax; asbestos; fireman, fire fighter, fire eater, fire department, fire brigade, engine company; pumper, fire truck, hook and ladder, aerial ladder, bucket; fire hose, fire hydrant.    [forest fires] backfire, firebreak, trench; aerial water bombardment.    wet blanket; fire extinguisher, soda and acid extinguisher, dry chemical extinguisher, CO-two extinguisher, carbon tetrachloride, foam; sprinklers, automatic sprinkler system; fire bucket, sand bucket.    [warning of fire] fire alarm, evacuation alarm, [laws to prevent fire] fire code, fire regulations, fire; fire inspector; code violation, citation.    ... show more

A loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine.

A fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path.

A miscalculation that recoils on its maker.

synonym: boomerang.

Come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect:
— Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble.

synonyms: backlash, recoil.

Emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire.

Set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire.

Dutch: falen