Reading Theme:
Fire Department: Definition, Examples, and Usage
Meaning 1：firefighting service (fire department)
fire department
/ˈfaɪər dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
n.
The fire department is a public service organization that fights fires and provides emergency rescue services.
firefighting service
➕
/ˈfaɪərˌfaɪtɪŋ ˈsɜːrvɪs/
n.
A public service organization responsible for extinguishing fires and providing emergency rescue in accidents or disasters.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
Compound: 'fire' (Old English) + 'department' (Latin 'departire').
💡 Mnemonic
Fire + department = the place that fights fires.
📖 Example
When the kitchen stove started smoking, my mom quickly called the fire department.
My mom immediately called the fire department when the kitchen stove began to smoke.
🔗 Collocations
call the fire department – to phone the fire department for help
fire department response – the action taken by the fire department upon receiving a call
local fire department – the fire department serving a specific community or area
🔄 Synonyms
fire service (n.) – Another term for the fire department, especially in British English.
fire brigade (n.) – A group of firefighters, often used to refer to a local fire department.
fire rescue (n.) – The combined function of firefighting and rescue operations performed by the fire department.
📖 Cultural Story
The concept of organized fire departments dates back to ancient Rome, but modern municipal fire services emerged in the 19th century, such as the London Fire Engine Establishment (1865).
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