bonfire
A large, controlled outdoor fire lit for celebration, signaling, or to dispose of garden waste. It is typically much larger than a standard campfire and is often the centerpiece of a social or cultural event.
Examples
3 of 5We gathered around the bonfire on the beach to roast marshmallows and tell stories.
We gathered around the bonfire on the beach to roast marshmallows and tell stories.
The local authorities have issued a permit for the annual commemorative bonfire.
The local authorities have issued a permit for the annual commemorative bonfire.
Let's grab some old crates and have a massive bonfire tonight.
Let's grab some old crates and have a massive bonfire tonight.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
The word comes from 'bone-fire' (fire of bones). Imagine an ancient celebration where people threw large bones into a massive fire to remember the name.
Quick Quiz
The villagers spent all afternoon gathering wood to build a massive ________ for the summer solstice festival.
Correct!
The correct answer is: bonfire
Examples
We gathered around the bonfire on the beach to roast marshmallows and tell stories.
everydayWe gathered around the bonfire on the beach to roast marshmallows and tell stories.
The local authorities have issued a permit for the annual commemorative bonfire.
formalThe local authorities have issued a permit for the annual commemorative bonfire.
Let's grab some old crates and have a massive bonfire tonight.
informalLet's grab some old crates and have a massive bonfire tonight.
Sociological studies suggest that the community bonfire served as a primary site for tribal cohesion.
academicSociological studies suggest that the community bonfire served as a primary site for tribal cohesion.
The luxury resort features a nightly bonfire to enhance the guest experience in the outdoor lounge area.
businessThe luxury resort features a nightly bonfire to enhance the guest experience in the outdoor lounge area.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
bonfire of the vanities
a burning of objects condemned as authorities
a bonfire of regulations
a metaphorical large-scale destruction of rules or red tape
bonfire night
a traditional UK celebration on November 5th
Often Confused With
A campfire is small and used for cooking or warmth while camping; a bonfire is much larger and used for celebrations or burning waste.
A pyre is a structure, usually made of wood, used specifically for burning a corpse as part of a funeral rite.
Usage Notes
The word is almost exclusively used for outdoor settings. In a metaphorical sense, it is often used to describe the large-scale disposal or destruction of documents or regulations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often call any fire outside a 'bonfire', but it must be large and intentional. Do not use 'bonfire' to describe an accidental fire like a forest fire or a house fire.
Memory Tip
The word comes from 'bone-fire' (fire of bones). Imagine an ancient celebration where people threw large bones into a massive fire to remember the name.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'bonefire', literally meaning a fire for burning bones.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In the United Kingdom, bonfires are the central element of Guy Fawkes Night (November 5th) to commemorate the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
Quick Quiz
The villagers spent all afternoon gathering wood to build a massive ________ for the summer solstice festival.
Correct!
The correct answer is: bonfire
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