fire truck

From fire +‎ truck.

• IPA^(key): /faɪɚ tɹʌk/

• Audio (US):

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fire truck (plural fire trucks)

2. (firefighting, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) A motor truck that serves as firefighting apparatus (a fire appliance).

   Alternative form: firetruck

   Hypernyms: truck < motor vehicle < vehicle

   Near-synonym: fire engine (often synonymous; sometimes precisely differentiated by equipment)

• In Britain (though not Australia), a fire truck is considered an Americanism. Collins English Dictionary suggests, "in Britain, usually use fire engine." Cambridge Dictionary labels fire truck as "US" and defines it as fire engine.
• More precise distinctions in terminology are sometimes made in ways specific to a region or even (in some cases) to particular fire services. For example, some define a fire truck as a ladder truck, a vehicle used by firefighters to gain access to the upper stories of a building. Under this definition, unlike a fire engine, trucks do not have pumps or carry water.