autoignition

[aw-toh-ig-nish-uhn]

noun

1. Automotive.,  the spontaneous ignition of fuel when introduced into the combustion chamber of an internal-combustion engine, as a result either of glowing carbon in the chamber or of the heat of compression.

2. spontaneous combustion.

Word History and Origins

Origin of autoignition¹

auto- ¹ + ignition

Example Sentences

"The Criegee intermediates themselves are not new, but our understanding of them is much greater, and our understanding of autoignition chemistry and atmospheric chemistry is much greater," said Osborn.

Read more on Scientific American