noun a continuous discharge of firearms
verb to begin shooting a gun or guns
The soldiers were ordered to open fire on the enemy positions.
The chef used an open fire to grill the steaks to perfection.
The firefighters worked to contain the open fire before it spread to nearby buildings.
We gathered around the open fire to roast marshmallows.
In a military context, a writer may use the term 'open fire' to describe the act of soldiers shooting their weapons at an enemy during a battle scene in a novel or screenplay.
A psychologist may use the term 'open fire' metaphorically to describe a patient's sudden and intense emotional outburst during a therapy session.