combust

[ kuhm-buhst ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to burn.

combust

/ kəmˈbʌst /

adjective

1. astrology (of a star or planet) invisible for a period between 24 and 30 days each year due to its proximity to the sun

verb

1. chem to burn

Word History and Origins

Origin of combust¹

1325–75; Middle English < Latin combūstus (past participle of combūrere to burn up, equivalent to com- com- + -ūs- variant stem of ūrere to burn + -tus past participle suffix; -b- by misanalysis of ambūrere, another derivative, as am- + -būrere )

Example Sentences

He says, too, that “this was not some magical cyber-attack in which the batteries spontaneously combusted by some clever bit of code as people may initially have thought or suspected”.

From BBC

In one incident, a Think Pink waste pile close to a nature reserve burned for two months after spontaneously combusting.

From BBC

He wasn’t exactly spontaneously combusting like Kevin “I would love it” Keegan in his 1996 pomp but, speaking last weekend, Clement’s reaction illustrated the tension at the top of the league.

From BBC

"Modern landfill facilities already capture, upgrade and combust their gas emissions for electricity generation, however, our process creates a much more environmentally impactful and commercially valuable product," he said.

From Science Daily

"But because you've combusted the carbon stored in the plants and their organic soils, even the increase in photosynthesis we observe doesn't necessarily translate into more carbon storage in the long run," Kim said.

From Science Daily