an uncontrolled fire in the bush; a scrub or forest fire
bushfire in American English
(ˈbuʃˌfaiᵊr)
noun
an uncontrolled fire in the trees and bushes of scrubland
Word origin
[1865–70; bush1 + fire]This word is first recorded in the period 1865–70. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: figure skating, goulash, steamroller, tick-tack-toe, valence
Examples of 'bushfire' in a sentence
bushfire
That went round football like a bushfire.
The Sun (2009)
Now, in the wake of their bushfire tragedy, they need our help.
The Sun (2009)
Shards of hot metal littered the ground, and a bushfire was still burning on the hillside.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Australia's well-equipped bushfire brigades are staffed by volunteers who leave their jobs to fight fires when needed.