firewall

C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈfaɪ(ə)ɹˌwɔl/ UK /ˈfaɪə.wɔəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #19379

Meanings

1

noun
A security system that controls the traffic coming into and out of a computer network

The company's firewall blocked the suspicious connection.
2

noun
A wall designed to stop fire from spreading through a building or vehicle

The firewall between the apartments prevented the fire from spreading.
3

noun
A barrier that prevents conflicts of interest between two parts of an organization

The bank set up a firewall between its advisory and trading teams.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms firewalls

Etymology

From fire + wall. Compare West Frisian brânmuorre, Dutch brandmuur, German Brandmauer, Feuermauer, Swedish brandvägg, brandmur, Icelandic eldvegg. The verb sense for using maximum power or acceleration comes from the engine's firewall being the limit of forward movement of the throttle controls on many simpler vehicles; thus, to get the maximum engine output, one would push the throttle levers or pedal all the way to the firewall. The politics sense is a calque of German Brandmauer.

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# firewall

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈfaɪ(ə)ɹˌwɔl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈfaɪə.wɔəl/
**Frequency rank:** 19379

## Meanings
1. A security system that controls the traffic coming into and out of a computer network
2. A wall designed to stop fire from spreading through a building or vehicle
3. A barrier that prevents conflicts of interest between two parts of an organization

## Examples
- The company's firewall blocked the suspicious connection.
- The firewall between the apartments prevented the fire from spreading.
- The bank set up a firewall between its advisory and trading teams.

## Etymology
From fire + wall. Compare West Frisian brânmuorre, Dutch brandmuur, German Brandmauer, Feuermauer, Swedish brandvägg, brandmur, Icelandic eldvegg. The verb sense for using maximum power or acceleration comes from the engine's firewall being the limit of forward movement of the throttle controls on many simpler vehicles; thus, to get the maximum engine output, one would push the throttle levers or pedal all the way to the firewall. The politics sense is a calque of German Brandmauer.

## AI Etymology
Firewall is from fire + wall. Compare West Frisian brânmuorre, Dutch brandmuur, German Brandmauer, Feuermauer, Swedish brandvägg, brandmur, Icelandic eldvegg. The verb sense for using maximum power or acceleration comes from the engine's firewall being the limit of forward movement of the throttle controls on many simpler vehicles; thus, to get the maximum engine output, one would push the throttle levers or pedal all the way to the firewall. The politics sense is a calque of German Brandmauer. In present-day use, it can mean a security system that controls the traffic coming into and out of a computer network, or a wall designed to stop fire from spreading through a building or vehicle.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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