Combustion

//kəmˈbʌs.t͡ʃən// noun

noun ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The act or process of burning. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    the act of burning something wordnet
  3. 3
    A process whereby two chemicals are combined to produce heat. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    a process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light wordnet
  5. 5
    A process wherein a fuel is combined with oxygen, usually at high temperature, releasing heat. countable, uncountable
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  1. 6
    a state of violent disturbance and excitement wordnet
  2. 7
    Violent agitation, tumult. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "From this ground, with a kind of loose scorn, he continues the French Correspondence, and secretly contriveth a continuance of the Scotish Rebellion. He omits no Act of Contempt against the antient Nobility, that they might in the sence of their disgrace be, or at least dayly threaten some new Combustion."

Synonyms

All synonyms
burningcremationincinerationbackfirebalefirebeacon

Example

More examples

"Oxygen is needed for combustion."

Etymology

From Old French combustion, from Latin combustio, from comburere (“to burn”), itself from the intensifying prefix com- + the root burere (a faulty sep. of amburere "to burn around", itself from ambi- + urere "to burn, singe"); equivalent to combust + -ion.

Related phrases

combustion chambercombustion enginecombustion triangleinternal combustioninternal combustion engineinternal-combustion enginepre-combustionspontaneous combustionspontaneous human combustionblowing upbust toncar engine

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.