ignition

[ig-nish-uhn]

noun

1. the act or fact of igniting; state of being ignited.

2. a means or device for igniting.

3. (in an internal-combustion engine) the process that ignites the fuel in the cylinder.

ignition

/ ɪɡˈnɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of initiating combustion

2. the process of igniting the fuel in an internal-combustion engine

3. the devices used to ignite the fuel in an internal-combustion engine

Other Word Forms

• reignition noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ignition¹

1605–15; Medieval Latin ignītiōn- (stem of ignītiō ) a setting on fire. See ignite, -ion

Example Sentences

The report also claims that the fire entered west Altadena as wind speeds increased, describing it as a “more densely populated” area with older homes built with materials that were “more vulnerable to ignition.”

From Los Angeles Times

Experts warn that hotter temperatures are making the land drier and more prone to ignition.

From BBC

Company executives said most of those ignitions were small fires that did not spread.

From Los Angeles Times

BurnBot hopes to thwart human–started fires by removing flammable grasses along common ignition points, like roadways and power lines.

From Los Angeles Times

Securities and Exchange Commission, in which the utility company stated it was “not aware of evidence pointing to another possible source of ignition” for the Eaton fire.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blast 
• burst 
• detonation 
• firing 
• outbreak 
• outburst