fireworks display

[keannu]

I think "fireworks" itself is sufficient to mean "the work played in the sky by fire", but why is "display" added here? Doesn't "firework" only work?

do16
ex)A colorful fireworks display in a dark sky is beautiful. It is the result of someone's great efforts. This person is a fireworks artist.

 

[5jj]

You can see fireworks , especially rockets, in the sky, but a display is being referred to here.

 

[emsr2d2]

A firework is the individual item - a rocket or a Catherine Wheel or a Wailing Witch etc. When lots of fireworks are set off together or in succession as show, we call it a "display".

 

[SoothingDave]

People will say "we're going to see the fireworks tonight" but they mean they are going to watch them being displayed, i.e. shot off. People would be very disappointed if you told them to come see the fireworks and you just showed them inert in their packages.

 

[emsr2d2]

I should have added that in BrE we call it a "firework display" (firework = singular).