Synonyms

fire engine

American

[fahyuhr en-juhn] / ˈfaɪər ˌɛn dʒən /

noun

a vehicle equipped for firefighting, now usually a motor truck having a motor-driven pump for shooting water or chemical solutions at high pressure.

fire engine British

noun

a heavy road vehicle that carries firefighters and firefighting equipment to a fire

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of fire engine

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The department did not have the money or personnel “to repair and maintain emergency fire engines, fire trucks, and ambulances,” the suit alleges.

From Los Angeles Times

A “majority” of long dead-end streets did not fulfill the sections of the fire code ensuring that fire engines have enough space to turn around, the report said.

From Los Angeles Times

The lawsuit reflects growing concern about high prices and shortages of fire engines and parts in a market that is heavily concentrated among the largest players.

From The Wall Street Journal

A major incident has been declared by the local government after checks found the airport's fire engines failed to meet international safety standards, forcing it to halt operations.

From BBC

"You can do the fire engine if you want, Dad," Sam said.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023