deflagrate

[ def-luh-greyt ]

verb (used with or without object)

, def·la·grat·ed, def·la·grat·ing.

1. to burn, especially suddenly and violently.

deflagrate

/ ˈdɛfləˌɡreɪt; ˈdiː- /

verb

1. to burn or cause to burn with great heat and light

Derived Forms

• ˌdeflaˈgration, noun

Other Words From

• defla·gra·ble adjective
• defla·gra·bili·ty noun
• defla·gration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deflagrate¹

1720–30; < Latin dēflagrātus (past participle of dēflagrāre to burn down), equivalent to dē- de- + flagr ( āre ) to burn + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of deflagrate¹

C18: from Latin dēflagrāre, from de- + flagrāre to burn

Example Sentences

Mr de la Place and I deflagrated a convenient quantity of nitre and charcoal in an ice apparatus, and found that twelve pounds of ice were melted by the deflagration of one pound of nitre.

From Project Gutenberg

They deflagrate when sprinkled on fused nitre, forming carbonate of potash.

From Project Gutenberg

The salts deflagrate and a luminous flame envelops the ordinary feeble arc-flame.

From Project Gutenberg

The salts containing nitric acid deflagrate when heated on charcoal.

From Project Gutenberg

Finally, if the amount of picric acid be still further increased under these conditions, it will undergo partial decomposition and volatilise, but will not even deflagrate.

From Project Gutenberg