(~s)
1.
A ~ is a fire that starts, usually by itself, in a wild area such as a forest, and spreads rapidly, causing great damage.
...a ~ in Montana that’s already burned thousands of acres of rich grassland.
N-COUNT
2.
If something, especially news or a rumour, spreads like ~, it spreads extremely quickly.
These stories are spreading like ~ through the city.
PHRASE: V inflects