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

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.)

Other Word Forms

• combustive noun
• noncombustion noun
• noncombustive adjective
• precombustion noun
• self-combustion noun
• uncombustive 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

A post-mortem examination found the child died from the "inhalation of the products of combustion", the court heard.

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In a strategic shift, Porsche said an upcoming line of sport utility vehicles, originally planned as fully electric, will now launch exclusively with combustion engines and plug-in hybrid options.

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The agency said it suspects the cause was poor maintenance and inadequate ventilation in the inverter battery area, which caused overheating and combustion.

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But even if that's true, next year is not just about internal combustion engine performance.

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In that situation, the internal combustion engine is effectively being used as an energy generator for the battery.

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Related Words

• ignition