combustion
noun
com·bus·tion kəm-ˈbəs-chən 
1
: an act or instance of burning
Smoke is produced during combustion.
2
: a usually rapid chemical process (such as oxidation) that produces heat and usually light
The carburetor mixes fuel with air for combustion.
also : a slower oxidation (as in the body)
3
: violent agitation : tumult
… periods of great social combustion alternating with quiescence …
Kurt Andersen
Kurt Andersen combustive
kəm-ˈbə-stiv
adjective 
Example Sentences
Combustion may occur at high temperatures. This ratio of air to fuel results in better combustion.
Recent Examples on the Web The passionate Moon in Aries will form an early square to exceptional Pluto, potentially lighting some fires, but any combustion should slow down and cool off by the time the Moon enters reliable Taurus at 7:39 am EDT. Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 If your fire is packed too densely, air can’t flow through to drive combustion; if your fuel is packed too loosely, then the air can’t get enough power to move quickly. Sarah Wells, Popular Mechanics, 13 Sep. 2022 Despite Toyota’s dominance in hybrid sales, the internal combustion component of its hybrids tends to have a droning sound. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 9 Sep. 2022 What this Jeep Recon will not be doing is replacing the Jeep Wrangler, and that model’s internal combustion powertrain. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 8 Sep. 2022 Meanwhile, the Air Force will get data on measurements of specific impulse, or ISP, combustion stability, vibration and shock profiles, and range of inlet pressures and temperatures. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 2 Sep. 2022 But the transition to combustion power is less elegant, even using the blended Hybrid mode, with a noticeable pause as the four-cylinder fires up. Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 2 Sep. 2022 Reengineering decades of internal combustion-centric technology, business models, and supply chains should be easy, right? WIRED, 31 Aug. 2022 Where in March, workers in Assembly 1 were producing both electric and standard internal combustion SUVs on the same line, that space is now solely devoted to manufacturing EVs. William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 25 Aug. 2022 See More
Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 If your fire is packed too densely, air can’t flow through to drive combustion; if your fuel is packed too loosely, then the air can’t get enough power to move quickly. Sarah Wells, Popular Mechanics, 13 Sep. 2022 Despite Toyota’s dominance in hybrid sales, the internal combustion component of its hybrids tends to have a droning sound. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 9 Sep. 2022 What this Jeep Recon will not be doing is replacing the Jeep Wrangler, and that model’s internal combustion powertrain. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 8 Sep. 2022 Meanwhile, the Air Force will get data on measurements of specific impulse, or ISP, combustion stability, vibration and shock profiles, and range of inlet pressures and temperatures. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 2 Sep. 2022 But the transition to combustion power is less elegant, even using the blended Hybrid mode, with a noticeable pause as the four-cylinder fires up. Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 2 Sep. 2022 Reengineering decades of internal combustion-centric technology, business models, and supply chains should be easy, right? WIRED, 31 Aug. 2022 Where in March, workers in Assembly 1 were producing both electric and standard internal combustion SUVs on the same line, that space is now solely devoted to manufacturing EVs. William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 25 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English combustioun "burning, calcination," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French combustion, borrowed from Late Latin combustiōn-, combustiō "burning up (of the dead or by the fires in hell)," from Latin combus-, variant stem of combūrere "to destroy with fire, reduce to ashes" + -tiōn-, tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at combust
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing combustion
Kids Definition
combustion
noun
com·bus·tion kəm-ˈbəs-chən
: the process of burning
Medical Definition
combustion
noun
com·bus·tion kəm-ˈbəs-chən
: a usually very rapid chemical process (as oxidation) that produces heat and usually light
also : a slower oxidation (as in the body)
combustive
adjective
as in combustible
capable of catching or being set on fire with such a highly combustive inventory, the ropewalk was engulfed in flames in a matter of minutes Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- combustible
- explosive
- ignitable
- inflammable
- flammable
- fiery
- burnable
- ignitible
- incendiary
- touchy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- incombustible
- noncombustible
- fireproof
- nonflammable
- nonexplosive
- noninflammable
- unburnable
- nonburnable