combustion
Americannoun
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the act or process of burning.
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Chemistry.
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rapid oxidation accompanied by heat and, usually, light.
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chemical combination attended by production of heat and light.
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slow oxidation not accompanied by high temperature and light.
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violent excitement; tumult.
noun
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the process of burning
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any process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to produce a significant rise in temperature and the emission of light
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a chemical process in which two compounds, such as sodium and chlorine, react together to produce heat and light
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a process in which a compound reacts slowly with oxygen to produce little heat and no light
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The process of burning.
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A chemical change, especially through the rapid combination of a substance with oxygen, producing heat and, usually, light.
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See also spontaneous combustion
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing combustion
ACT Vocabulary List
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"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act II
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Inferno Lingo: Fire Vocabulary
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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.
The plan includes the rollout of new midsize and large van platforms that will provide different powertrain options, including battery electric, hybrid and combustion engine technologies.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
With all the talk about changing the split between internal combustion and electrical energy for next year, do they just need to add a bigger fuel tank or totally redesign the engine?
From BBC • May 26, 2026
On Sunday, Europe’s most valuable automaker took the wraps off its first-ever model without an internal combustion engine.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
One change has already been made to address this and the latest plan is to make the energy split - which is actually currently about 54-46 in favour of the internal combustion engine - 60-40.
From BBC • May 23, 2026
A terrific drone of an internal combustion engine started up.
From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
