firework

US/ˈfaɪɚˌwɚk/

nounA2+Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #13,232 of 15,258neutral

Other forms: fireworks

A firework is a device that explodes into coloured light for a display. Let off a firework.

The colours come from metal salts, so copper gives blue and strontium gives red. A firework is the commonest cause of injury on one night of the British year.

Definitions of firework

1nounfireworkA device that explodes into coloured light for a display.A2+
“One firework in the box had been damp since the previous year.”

firework is a device.

Where it comes from

Fire plus work, with the same compound in Dutch and German.

From fire + work. Compare stq Fjuurwierk (“firework”), West Frisian fjoerwurk (“firework”), Dutch vuurwerk (“firework”), Low German Füürwark, Füerwark (“firework”), German Feuerwerk (“firework”), Danish fyrværkeri (“firework”), Swedish fyrverkeri (“firework”), Faroese fýrverk (“firework”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

firework in the wild

Such displays are the focal point of many cultural and religious celebrations, though mismanagement can lead to fireworks accidents.
Fireworks
Aerial fireworks may have their own propulsion (skyrocket) or be shot into the air by a mortar (aerial shell).
Fireworks
A Roman candle is a traditional type of firework that ejects one or more stars or exploding shells.
Roman candle (firework)
Roman candles come in a variety of sizes, from 6 mm diameter for consumers, up to 8 cm (3.1 in) diameter in professional fireworks displays.
Roman candle (firework)
A smoke bomb is a firework designed to produce a large amount of smoke upon ignition.
Smoke bomb

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

fireworks

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