This is the 5347th most frequent Chinese word.
交火
"Exchange of fire" or "crossfire" (referring to a firefight or combat).
The word "交火" refers to armed conflict or exchange of gunfire in a military context here.
军队在边界地区发生了激烈的交火。
The armies engaged in fierce crossfire in the border region.
In this case, "交火" metaphorically describes an intense verbal exchange or debate.
两位政治家在辩论中交火，分歧逐渐激化。
The two politicians crossed verbal swords during the debate, escalating their differences gradually.
Here, "交火" is used to describe an altercation, possibly violent, between opposing groups in a societal context.