different between backfire vs backfile

English

Etymology

From back + fire.

Pronunciation

• (verb) IPA^(key): /bæk?fa??(?)/, /?bækfa??(?)/
• (noun) IPA^(key): /?bækfa??(?)/

Verb

backfire (third-person singular simple present backfires, present participle backfiring, simple past and past participle backfired)

1. (of a gun, cannon, Bunsen burner, etc.) To fire in the opposite direction, for example due to an obstruction in the barrel.
2. (of an engine) To experience a premature ignition of fuel or an ignition of exhaust gases, making a popping sound.
3. To fail in a manner that brings down further misfortune.

Translations

Noun

backfire (plural backfires)

1. (firefighting) Alternative spelling of back fire
2. A premature explosion in the cylinder of a gas or oil engine during the exhaust or the compression stroke, tending to drive the piston in the wrong direction.
3. An explosion in the exhaust passages of an internal combustion engine.
4. An explosion in other equipment.

Synonyms

• (premature explosion in engine cylinder): knock, ping

Derived terms

• backfire effect

Anagrams

• fireback

English

Etymology

back +? file

Noun

backfile (plural backfiles)

1. A file of documents in paper or fiche format that have no digital equivalent.
2. A file containing non-current items.

Derived terms

• backfile conversion