v. /mis fieur"/ ; n. /mis"fuyeur'/ , v. , misfired, misfiring , n.
v.i.
1. (of a rifle or gun or of a bullet or shell) to fail to fire or explode.
2. (of an internal-combustion engine) to fail to ignite properly or when expected.
3. to fail to achieve the desired result, effect, etc.: His criticisms completely misfired.
n.
4. an act or instance of misfiring.
[ 1745-55; MIS- 1 + FIRE ]