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), 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.