Backfire

[bæk'faɪə] or ['bæk'faɪr]

(noun.) a miscalculation that recoils on its maker.

(noun.) a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path.

(noun.) a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine.

(verb.) set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest to prairie fire.

(verb.) emit a loud noise as a result of undergoing a backfire; 'My old car backfires all the time'.

(verb.) come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect; 'Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble'.

Checked by Andrew--From WordNet