combustible
[ kuh m-buhs-tuh-buh l ]
/ kəmˈbʌs tə bəl /
adjective
capable of catching fire and burning; inflammable; flammable: Gasoline vapor is highly combustible.
easily excited: a high-strung, combustible nature.
noun
a combustible substance: Trucks carrying combustibles will not be allowed to use this tunnel.
RELATED CONTENT
Why Do “Flammable” And “Inflammable” Mean The Same Thing?English is a trickster of a language, evidenced by the fact that two words that appear to be antonyms can actually mean the exact same thing. For the most part we manage to bumble along without confusing the two, and can figure out which meaning is intended based on context (although in the case of regardless and irregardless some extra time is needed for teeth-gnashing). …
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
combining form, combining weight, combo, combo store, combust, combustible, combustion, combustion chamber, combustion engine, combustion tube, combustor
Origin of combustible
Related formscom·bus·ti·bil·i·ty, com·bus·ti·ble·ness, nouncom·bus·ti·bly, adverbun·com·bus·ti·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for combustible
British Dictionary definitions for combustible
combustible
/ (kəmˈbʌstəbəl) /
adjective
capable of igniting and burning
easily annoyed; excitable
noun
a combustible substance
Derived Formscombustibility or combustibleness, nouncombustibly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for combustible
combustible
1520s, from Middle French combustible, or directly from Late Latin combustibilis, from Latin combustus, past participle of combuere "to burn up, consume" (see combustion). Figurative sense is from 1640s; as a noun, from 1680s. Related: Combustibility (late 15c.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for combustible
combustible
[ kəm-bŭs′tə-bəl ]
adj.
Capable of igniting and burning.
n.
A substance that ignites and burns readily.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.