firework
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /fˈaɪəwɜːk/
US
- /ˈfaɪrˌwɜrk/
Description
- bright burst in the sky
- celebration light
- explosive display
A firework is a small explosive device that lights up the sky with color, sound, or both. People usually think of it as part of a celebration, such as Independence Day, New Year's Eve, or a festival. It lasts only a moment, but that brief flash can feel exciting, loud, and beautiful.
You usually talk about watching fireworks as a show, but a single firework is one burst or one piece in that show. The word can also suggest strong excitement or drama. If people say there were "fireworks" between two people, they may mean sudden romance, strong emotion, or even conflict.
A firework is an explosive device made to produce a bright display of light, color, noise, or movement, usually during a celebration. In everyday use, the singular word often refers to one rocket, shell, or item, while the plural, fireworks, usually refers to the whole show. A firework is meant to be seen and heard, and it often brings to mind night skies, festivals, national holidays, and shared public events.
The word also carries a strong sense of drama. Because a firework is sudden, bright, and intense, people use fireworks in a figurative way to talk about powerful emotion or conflict. There might be "fireworks" in a romance, in an argument, or in a performance full of energy and excitement. In that sense, the idea is not literal explosion but a feeling of sparks flying.
Historically, fireworks began in China and later spread around the world, becoming part of many public and private celebrations. But in plain modern English, the core idea is simple: a firework is one exciting burst in the sky, and fireworks are the bigger display. The word suggests brightness, noise, celebration, and a moment that is over almost as soon as it begins.
Examples
- 1
Single firework
A firework exploded above the beach just after sunset.
- 2
Watching display
We watched the fireworks from the roof.
- 3
Safety request
Please don't set off fireworks near the houses.
- 4
Public event
The town canceled its annual firework display because of the wind.
- 5
Figurative conflict
There were fireworks in the meeting when the budget cuts were announced.
Phrase
there were fireworks
people suddenly argued very strongly
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- fireworknoun
Forms
- fireworkspluralnoun