Meaning & use
fireguards
Last updated
“fireguards” is a form of “fireguard”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounplural
Metal screens or frames placed in front of an open fire to stop sparks and to keep people from touching the flames.
Grammar: Plural of fireguard: the fireguards stood in front of each fireplace.
Patterns
- fireguards for fireplaces
- put up fireguards
The nursery had two fireguards to keep the toddlers away from the open fires.
Landlords must provide fireguards in rooms with open fireplaces.
The antique shop sold decorative brass fireguards in various sizes.
Word forms
| singular | fireguard |
|---|
Common combinations
- fit fireguards
- The nursery had to fit fireguards before it could open.
- safety fireguards
- Safety fireguards are standard in homes with young children.
- brass fireguards
- The shop sold antique brass fireguards.
- mesh fireguards
- Mesh fireguards stop sparks from landing on the carpet.
- place fireguards
- Place fireguards in front of every open fire.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fire screens
- Fire screens are often decorative and mainly stop heat and sparks, while fireguards are designed for safety.
- spark guards
- Spark guards focus on catching sparks and may not keep children away, whereas fireguards do both.
- safety screens
- Safety screens is a more general term and could be used around heaters or other hazards, not only fires.
Word family
Commonly confused: fireguards or firewalls?
fireguards vs firewalls
Firewalls are computer security systems or fire-resistant walls in buildings, and fireguards are screens placed in front of fires in homes.
Practice
The new parents put ______ in front of the living-room fireplace so the baby could not get near the flames.
Choose one answer.
Fireguards are protective screens at a fireplace. A firebreak is a cleared strip to stop wildfires spreading, so it does not belong indoors.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fireguards”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.