combustion

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.

• IPA^(key): /kəmˈbʌs.tʃən/

• Audio (US)

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combustion (countable and uncountable, plural combustions)

1. (chemistry) The act or process of burning.
2. A process where two chemicals are combined to produce heat.
3. A process wherein a fuel is combined with oxygen, usually at high temperature, releasing heat.
4. (figuratively) Violent agitation, tumult.
   • Mede

     There [were] great combustions and divisions among the heads of the university.

   • Dryden

     But say from whence this new combustion springs.

• (act or process of burning): incineration, cremation

• deflagration
• detonation

• combustible
• combustive
• combustor
• spontaneous combustion

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").

• IPA^(key): /kɔ̃.bys.tjɔ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

• Homophone: combustions
• Hyphenation: com‧bus‧tion

combustion f (plural combustions)

1. combustion, burning, incineration

• combustible

• comburant

• “combustion” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).