# fire vs fuse

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### fire
*noun · IPA /ˈfaɪ.ə/ · frequency rank #501*
A (usually self-sustaining) chemical reaction involving the bonding of oxygen with carbon or other fuel, with the production of heat and the presence of flame or smouldering.

### fuse
*noun · IPA /fjuːz/ · frequency rank #12,605*
A cord that, when lit, conveys the fire to some explosive device, such as a bomb.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fire-vs-fuse