deflagrate

[def-luh-greyt]

verb (used with or without object)

deflagrated, deflagrating 

1. to burn, especially suddenly and violently.

deflagrate

/ ˈdɛfləˌɡreɪt, ˈdiː- /

verb

1. to burn or cause to burn with great heat and light

Other Word Forms

• deflagrable adjective
• deflagrability noun
• deflagration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deflagrate¹

1720–30; < Latin dēflagrātus (past participle of dēflagrāre to burn down), equivalent to dē- de- + flagr ( āre ) to burn + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of deflagrate¹

C18: from Latin dēflagrāre, from _de- + flagrāre to burn

Example Sentences

Mr de la Place and I deflagrated a convenient quantity of nitre and charcoal in an ice apparatus, and found that twelve pounds of ice were melted by the deflagration of one pound of nitre.

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They deflagrate when sprinkled on fused nitre, forming carbonate of potash.

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The salts deflagrate and a luminous flame envelops the ordinary feeble arc-flame.

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The salts containing nitric acid deflagrate when heated on charcoal.

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Finally, if the amount of picric acid be still further increased under these conditions, it will undergo partial decomposition and volatilise, but will not even deflagrate.

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