combustion

American  

[kuhm-buhs-chuhn] / kəmˈbʌs tʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of burning.

2. Chemistry.

   1. rapid oxidation accompanied by heat and, usually, light.

   2. chemical combination attended by production of heat and light.

   3. slow oxidation not accompanied by high temperature and light.

3. violent excitement; tumult.

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combustion British  

/ kəmˈbʌstʃən /

noun

1. the process of burning

2. any process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to produce a significant rise in temperature and the emission of light

3. a chemical process in which two compounds, such as sodium and chlorine, react together to produce heat and light

4. a process in which a compound reacts slowly with oxygen to produce little heat and no light

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combustion Scientific  

/ kəm-bŭs′chən /

1. The process of burning.

2. A chemical change, especially through the rapid combination of a substance with oxygen, producing heat and, usually, light.

3. See also spontaneous combustion

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combustion Cultural  

1. Burning; a chemical reaction that involves the rapid combination of a fuel with oxygen. (See oxidation and spontaneous combustion.)

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Other Word Forms

• combustive
  noun
• combustive
  adjective
• noncombustion
  noun
• noncombustive
  adjective
• precombustion
  noun
• self-combustion
  noun
• uncombustive
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of combustion

1400–50; late Middle English (< Middle French ) < Late Latin combūstiōn- (stem of combūstiō ). See combust, -ion

Explanation

Combustion means "the act of burning," like the combustion of fallen leaves that, if not extinguished immediately, can result in a forest fire. Combustion derives from the Latin word comburere, which means "to burn up." Matches, kindling, paper, and lighter fluid can be tools for combustion. In chemistry terms, combustion is any process in which a substance combines with oxygen to produce heat and light. Cars run because their engines use combustion to get the cylinders to fire.

Example Sentences

Even more critically, it is the company’s first test of whether enthusiasts will accept a car carrying the brand name but not the revving, powerful, combustion engine that has defined its legacy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

If the change to a 60:40 split - or thereabouts - between internal combustion and electrical power goes ahead, it will require a revised engine design for all companies.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Mass-market carmakers such as Ford and Jeep-owner Stellantis that rushed into EVs have taken billions of dollars in write-downs as they shift focus back to combustion engines and hybrids.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

Bloom Energy’s fuel-cell systems, which generate electricity without combustion, will provide electricity for Nebius, with 328 megawatts of installed capacity expected to be operational this year.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

It was in such a capacity in 1780 that Lavoisier made some dismissive remarks about a new theory of combustion that had been submitted to the academy by a hopeful young scientist.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• ignition