conflagration

[ kon-fluh-grey-shuh n ]

/ ˌkɒn fləˈgreɪ ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR conflagration ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a destructive fire, usually an extensive one.

Nearby words

Origin of conflagration

1545–55; < Latin conflagrātiōn- (stem of conflagrātiō), equivalent to conflagrāt(us) past participle of conflagrāre to burn up (con- con- + flagr- (akin to fulgur lightning, flamma flame, Greek phlóx; see phlox) + -ātus -ate¹) + -iōn- -ion

SYNONYMS FOR conflagration

See flame.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR conflagration ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formscon·fla·gra·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for conflagration

The fires that corporate America lit have now become a conflagration beyond its control.
The South Has Indeed Risen Again and It’s Called the Tea Party|Jack Schwartz|December 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A century ago, miscalculation was greatly to blame for thrusting Europe into a conflagration.
Mideast War in Our Time?|Jamie Dettmer|May 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Boston Marathon bombings reminded the world how quickly a celebration can turn into a conflagration.
Dutch Coronation Celebrations Clouded After Boston Marathon Bombing|Nadette De Visser|April 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The canisters, McMahon said, are to blame for the conflagration.
How Christopher Dorner Went Down|Christine Pelisek|February 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The conflagration in Congress is spreading to singe, if not consume, critical decisions across the board.
Washington’s Endless Civil War|Robert Shrum|January 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They plundered several houses, and were commencing the conflagration, when the inhabitants sallied forth and put them to flight.
King Philip|John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot) Abbott
Conflagration of mount tna, which overwhelmed the church of St. Leon, and the physician Piazzi.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
As to the upper town, after the conflagration of the last siege, it had been rebuilt in a very indifferent style.
Annals of a Fortress|E. Viollet-le-Duc
He brought them all the details of the conflagration at Pendarrel.
Trevethlan (Vol 3 of 3)|William Davy Watson
Dull splashes of red in the sky pointed out remnants of the day's conflagration still eating their way through the foothills.
Dennison Grant|Robert Stead

British Dictionary definitions for conflagration

conflagration

/ (ˌkɒnfləˈɡreɪʃən) /

noun

a large destructive fire

Derived Formsconflagrative, adjective

Word Origin for conflagration

C16: from Latin conflagrātiō, from conflagrāre to be burnt up, from com- (intensive) + flagrāre to burn; related to Latin fulgur lightning

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 conflagration

conflagration

1550s, from Middle French conflagration (16c.) or directly from Latin conflagrationem (nominative conflagratio), present participle of conflagrare "to burn up," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + flagrare "to burn" (see flagrant).

conflagration

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of conflagration

Examples from the Web for conflagration

conflagration

noun

Word Origin for conflagration

conflagration