fire truck

See also: firetruck

English

Alternative forms

• firetruck

Etymology

fire +‎ truck

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /faɪɚ tɹʌk/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

fire truck (plural fire trucks)

1. (firefighting, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) A ladder truck, a vehicle used by firefighters to gain access to the upper stories of a building. Typically, a fire truck has a hydraulic system which operates a large, heavy-duty ladder mounted on top of the truck body, space for portable ladders to be stored and compartments for holding other tools that may be needed. Unlike a fire engine, trucks do not have pumps or carry water.

Usage notes

In Britain (though not Australia), "fire truck" is considered an Americanism. Collins English Dictionary says "in BRIT, usually use 'fire engine'." Cambridge Dictionary labels "fire truck" as "US" and defines it as "fire engine".

Synonyms

• fire engine
• hook and ladder, hook-n-ladder

Related terms

• fire department
• fire service

Translations

ladder truck

• Afrikaans: brandweerwa
• Arabic: سيارة مطافئ
• Armenian: please add this translation if you can
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 雲梯車／云梯车

• Esperanto: please add this translation if you can
• Finnish: tikasauto (fi)
• Turkish: please add this translation if you can

fire truck in general — see fire engine