flashover

[ flash-oh-ver ]

noun

1. Electricity. a disruptive discharge around or over the surface of a solid or liquid insulator.
2. the moment of conflagration or complete incineration caused by superheated air or combustibles.

verb (used without object)

1. Electricity. to have or experience a flashover.

flashover

/ ˈflæʃˌəʊvə /

noun

1. an electric discharge over or around the surface of an insulator
2. the sudden and rapid spread of fire through the air, caused by the ignition of smoke or fumes from surrounding objects

Word History and Origins

Origin of flashover¹

First recorded in 1890–95; originally noun use of verb phrase flash over

Example Sentences

But Vaillant also characterizes the wildfire as a “regional apocalypse” and imminent flashover—the point of spontaneous combustion in an enclosed space—as “a malevolent entity from another dimension breaking through to this one.”

From Scientific American

Getting hotter, it soon reaches 1,128 degrees, and carbon monoxide in the smoke combusts — a flashover — propelling flames further.

From Los Angeles Times

The CFD, according to a report on the incident from Chicago's Fox 32 News, said the injuries were caused by a flashover at the fire.

From Fox News

It look less than five minutes for the heat to become so intense that it ignited all surfaces in the first room, something experts call “flashover.”

From Washington Post

And the video footage appeared to show "flashover," when every combustible thing in an area is burning, he said.

From Fox News