Words / A1

BONF-eye-uh/ˈbɒnfaɪə/

A bonfire is a large fire built outside, to burn garden waste, to keep warm, or for a party. Countable: a bonfire, bonfires. Write one word: bonfire. A fireplace is inside a room; a firework is a small exploding light in the sky, not a pile of wood. In Britain, Bonfire Night (5 November) is a famous date. Mix-up: bon + fire as two list words; and bonfire vs bond (a tie).

Meaning

A large fire built outside, for warmth, garden waste, or a party.

Examples

• “They stood round the bonfire in the garden.”
• “Keep the children away from the bonfire.”
• “We toasted bread on the bonfire with long sticks.”

Good to know

a bonfire (one word, outdoor). Contrast: fireplace (indoors), firework (sky). Mix-up: bon + fire.

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