combust
Americanverb (used with or without object)
adjective
verb
Etymology
Origin of combust
1325–75; Middle English < Latin combūstus (past participle of combūrere to burn up, equivalent to com- com- + -ūs- variant stem of ūrere to burn + -tus past participle suffix; -b- by misanalysis of ambūrere, another derivative, as am- + -būrere )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This triggers a process called thermal runaway, where rapidly rising temperatures cause the battery to spontaneously combust.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
If they overheat or combust in your checked bag in the cargo area of a plane, it may take a while for anyone to notice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2025
The devices contain lithium-ion batteries which, when damaged, can spontaneously combust.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2025
"Modern landfill facilities already capture, upgrade and combust their gas emissions for electricity generation, however, our process creates a much more environmentally impactful and commercially valuable product," he said.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 30, 2024
Too much reactivity and we would spontaneously combust.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
