Words / B1

FEYE-uh-rik-stingw-ish-uh/ˈfaɪər ɪkˌstɪŋɡwɪʃə/

A fire extinguisher (id: fire-extinguisher) is a cylinder of foam, powder, or CO₂ used to put out a small fire. A fire alarm warns; a fire blanket smothers. Labs: a fire extinguisher is staff-only; pulling it for a dare is a fire-alarm offence.

Meaning

A cylinder of foam, powder, or CO₂ used to put out a small fire.

Examples

• “A fire extinguisher is staff-only in the lab; pulling it for a dare is a fire-alarm offence.”
• “A fire-extinguisher check still goes on the caretaker’s log; blocking it with a bag is a fire-safety fail.”

Good to know

a fire extinguisher. Contrast: a fire alarm / a fire blanket. Labs / site. Countable cylinders. Mix-up: to extinguish is the verb; the cylinder is the extinguisher.

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