backfire

noun

  1. 1

    a miscalculation that recoils on its maker

  2. 2

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

  3. 3

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

  4. 4

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

verb

  1. 1

    set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire

  2. 2

    emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire

    My old car backfires all the time

  3. 3

    come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect

    Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble

Synonyms

Also useful for “backfire”:Scrabble