fire blight

noun

: a destructive infectious disease especially of apples, pears, and related fruits caused by a bacterium (Erwinia amylovora)

Examples of fire blight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Because of fire blight, a disease affecting pear and apple trees, the Callery pear was introduced in breeding programs to resist the disease. Mariyam Muhammad, The Enquirer, 16 Sep. 2024 Charon said fire blight has wreaked havoc on her orchard for eight or nine years. Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2024 Callery pear tree seeds were brought to the U.S. from China in 1916 to help breeders create fruit-bearing pear trees more resistant to fire blight, a disease that destroys leaves and fruit, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024 Spray dormant fruit trees and roses now to prevent leaf curl, fire blight, downy mildew, aphids, scale and other problems in spring and summer. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fire blight 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fire blight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1742, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fire blight was in 1742

Dictionary Entries Near fire blight

Cite this Entry

“Fire blight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fire%20blight. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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