catch fire catch·fire uncommon verb 1. start to burn or burst into flames “Marsh gases ignited suddenly” “The oily rags combusted spontaneously” Synonymseruptignitecatch firetake firecombustconflagrate Related words Word family ignition Broader terms change state Narrower terms blow outcatchlight up Related verbs burn WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved.