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
  noun
• 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

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.

Example Sentences

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

“Our customers will choose. And I’m pretty sure, also from feedback that we’re getting, that we have existing customers who have combustion or hybrids who also will want to have electric.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

Bloom Energy’s fuel-cell systems, which generate electricity without combustion, will provide electricity for Nebius, with 328 megawatts of installed capacity expected to be operational this year.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

“This-here is a internal combustion engine,” he said.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• ignition