burning down
Reducing to ashes
Burning down describes the process of a structure being destroyed by fire, consumed until little remains: The old warehouse was burning down when firefighters arrived.
It can also mean deliberately setting fire to a building: They were charged with burning down the church.
Figuratively, burning down suggests complete destruction of systems or institutions: burning down the establishment.
- igniteStart burning something
- playing with fireEngaging in reckless behavior
- fire hazardCombustion danger source
- arsonCriminal deliberate burning
- fireCombustion with flames
house fire · flames · up in flames · incinerate · blaze · scorch · scorched earth · combustion · inferno · downfall · smoldering · obliteration · ruin · total loss · torch · conflagration · ash · firefighters
- destructiondestruction, destroying, demolishing, devastation, ruination
- thermal processesheating, cooling, boiling, melting, freezing
burning downsaving
Reserving for future use
preserving · protecting · rescuing · safeguarding · conserving
burning downextinguishing
Causing to stop burning
putting out · dousing · quenching · smothering · snuffing out
burning downbuilding up
Increasing gradually
building · constructing · erecting · rebuilding · raising
burn, burning, down, burns, burned, burnt, burner, burners, downer