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 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

Example Sentences

The engines will have an approximate 50-50 split in power produced by the internal combustion engine and the electrical system, up from about 20% electrical this year.

From BBC

The change would mean plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, range extenders and internal combustion engines can still be sold in the EU after 2035, in addition to fully electric and hydrogen vehicles, it said.

From The Wall Street Journal

But Kail’s fleet maneuvers keep the production from bogging down without lessening the emotional combustion that is the source of the playwright’s lasting genius.

From Los Angeles Times

The US changes come as the European Union is expected to water down its plan to effectively ban new combustion engine cars from 2035.

From BBC

The internal combustion engine will spend a fair bit of its time acting as a generator for the battery.

From BBC

Related Words

• ignition