1. (

• blowback ,
• backfire ,

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

2. (

• backfire

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

3. (

• backfire ,

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

4. (

• backfire ,
• boomerang

) a miscalculation that recoils on its maker ;

1. (

• backfire ,
• backlash ,
• recoil

) come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect; "Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble"; "the political movie backlashed on the Democrats" ;

2. (

• backfire

) emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire; "My old car backfires all the time" ;

3. (

• backfire

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