combustible

[ kuhm-buhs-tuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of catching fire and burning; inflammable; flammable:

   Gasoline vapor is highly combustible.

2. easily excited:

   a high-strung, combustible nature.

noun

1. a combustible substance:

   Trucks carrying combustibles will not be allowed to use this tunnel.

combustible

/ kəmˈbʌstəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of igniting and burning
2. easily annoyed; excitable

noun

1. a combustible substance

Derived Forms

• comˈbustibly, adverb
• comˌbustiˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• com·busti·bili·ty com·busti·ble·ness noun
• com·busti·bly adverb
• uncom·busti·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of combustible¹

From the Late Latin word combūstibilis, dating back to 1520–30. See combust, -ible

Example Sentences

West told the story of a house two miles from a fire that burned when an ember landed in combustible materials at its base.

From Outside Online

In theory, a full reopening during a surge in cases sounds like a combustible mix.

From MIT Technology Review

After that time, it becomes less combustible, and components of it can separate, reducing its octane value.

From Outside Online

Frankel tells his story through interweaving profiles, mostly of men who have to overcome financial woes, combustible egos and their own self-doubt.

From Washington Post

Here, in your small corner on Planet Earth, in the middle of a vast, indifferent cosmos, you can achieve zen-like calm by methodically layering pieces of combustible matter for future use.

From Outside Online

This means not offering provocative remarks on a combustible topic like immigration, which is sure to make them enemies.

From The Daily Beast

Children have fantasy lives so rich and combustible that rigging them with lies is like putting a propeller on a rocket.

From The Daily Beast

This combustible brew of race, class, and economic anxieties bubbles all too closely to the surface.

From The Daily Beast

In both, devotion and yearning are fragile, easily combustible, and hard to replace.

From The Daily Beast

The Middle East today is more combustible and complex than it has ever been.

From The Daily Beast

It is very combustible, burns with a pale blue flame, and is converted into water.

From Project Gutenberg

Finally all the combustible portion of the fort was burnt to the ground, 12 cannon were captured, and about 60 Moros were slain.

From Project Gutenberg

At such moments, there was something brooding and combustible about him that gave one the sensation of walking over a mine.

From Project Gutenberg

There was something so combustible and wild in his attitude, that, there, at least no one was under illusions as to the danger.

From Project Gutenberg

There was no greater foundation for this than for Newton's celebrated conjecture that the diamond was combustible.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fiery
• flammable
• incendiary
• volatile