combustion

[ kuhm-buhs-chuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of burning.
2. Chemistry.
   1. rapid oxidation accompanied by heat and, usually, light.
   2. chemical combination attended by production of heat and light.
   3. slow oxidation not accompanied by high temperature and light.
3. violent excitement; tumult.

combustion

/ kəmˈbʌstʃən /

noun

1. the process of burning
2. any process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to produce a significant rise in temperature and the emission of light
3. a chemical process in which two compounds, such as sodium and chlorine, react together to produce heat and light
4. a process in which a compound reacts slowly with oxygen to produce little heat and no light

combustion

/ kəm-bŭs′chən /

1. The process of burning.
2. A chemical change, especially through the rapid combination of a substance with oxygen, producing heat and, usually, light.
3. See also spontaneous combustion

combustion

1. Burning; a chemical reaction that involves the rapid combination of a fuel with oxygen . ( See oxidation and spontaneous combustion .)

Derived Forms

• comˈbustive, nounadjective

Other Words From

• com·bustive adjective
• noncom·bustion noun
• noncom·bustive adjective
• precom·bustion noun
• self-com·bustion noun
• uncom·bustive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of combustion¹

1400–50; late Middle English (< Middle French ) < Late Latin combūstiōn- (stem of combūstiō ). See combust, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of combustion¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin combūrere to burn up, from com- (intensive) + ūrere to burn

Example Sentences

At the Court of Session in Edinburgh Chris Pirie KC, for the government, accepted that assessments did not include “the effects on climate of the combustion of oil and gas to be extracted from the fields.”

From BBC

“Electric vehicles are statistically less likely to catch fire spontaneously than an internal combustion engine vehicle.”

From Los Angeles Times

You can read that as a fluke, a demonstration of climate change or a metaphor: What had unfolded over the previous night and into early Wednesday morning was certainly a form of explosive combustion.

From Salon

The Dutchman’s Red Bull team have fitted a new internal combustion engine, and Verstappen had already exceeded his allocation for the year.

From BBC

That said, Harris has not called for the eventual elimination of internal combustion vehicles despite such plans in 12 states.

From Salon

Related Words

• ignition