bonfire

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈbɒnfaɪər/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈbɑnˌfaɪr/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(bon′fīər′)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
bon•fire /ˈbɑnˌfaɪr/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. a large fire built in the open air:a big bonfire to celebrate the Fourth of July.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
bon•fire  (bon′fīər′),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a large fire built in the open air, for warmth, entertainment, or celebration, to burn leaves, garbage, etc., or as a signal.
  2. any fire built in the open.
  • late Middle English bone fire, i.e., a fire with bones for fuel 1375–1425

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
bonfire /ˈbɒnˌfaɪə/ n
  1. a large outdoor fire
Etymology: 15th Century: alteration (through influence of French bon good) of bone-fire; from the use of bones as fuel
'bonfire' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Beltane - guy - Wolfe - balefire - beek - blaze - redly - usual
Collocations: [lit, started] a bonfire, singing around a bonfire, come over tonight for a bonfire, more...

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