ignition

American  

[ig-nish-uhn] / ɪgˈnɪʃ ən /

noun

1. the act or fact of igniting; state of being ignited.

2. a means or device for igniting.

3. (in an internal-combustion engine) the process that ignites the fuel in the cylinder.

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ignition British  

/ ɪɡˈnɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of initiating combustion

2. the process of igniting the fuel in an internal-combustion engine

3. the devices used to ignite the fuel in an internal-combustion engine

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Other Word Forms

• reignition noun

Etymology

Origin of ignition

1605–15; Medieval Latin ignītiōn- (stem of ignītiō ) a setting on fire. See ignite, -ion

Example Sentences

But Dad wasn’t pushing the key into the ignition.

From Literature

Chase swung on first, turned the key, then pushed the ignition switch.

From Literature

Apart from the electronic fuel ignition and other digital bits, this engine is practically identical to the beast my father winched into his Ford F-100 pickup in the 1970s.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m going to take my keys out of the ignition, drop them on the ground.

From Los Angeles Times

I run back outside, leap into the little two-seater, and push the ignition.

From Literature

Related Words

• blast
• burst
• detonation
• firing
• outbreak
• outburst