mis•fire
Pronunciation: (v.mis-fir'n.mis'fīr&sec), [key] — v., n. -fired, -fir•ing,
—v.i. - (of a rifle or gun or of a bullet or shell) to fail to fire or explode.
- (of an internal-combustion engine) to fail to ignite properly or when expected.
- to fail to achieve the desired result, effect, etc.: His criticisms completely misfired.
—n. - an act or instance of misfiring.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.