ignition
/ɪɡˈnɪʃ(ə)n
/noun [mass noun]
1The action of setting something on fire or starting to burn: three minutes after ignition, the flames were still growing...
- The danger is that the child s hand is still in the line of fire when ignition occurs and severe burns result.
- The ESU is the most frequent ignition source for surgical fires.
- The cast-iron grate can hold 18 burgers, and one-touch ignition makes lighting the fire a cinch.
1.1The process of starting the combustion of fuel in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine: a small amount of diesel fuel must be injected to allow ignition...
- In the early 70's came electronic ignition and electronic fuel injection.
- Other unusual engine features include valve timing control and direct fuel ignition.
- At that speed, ignition and combustion take place in a matter of milliseconds.
1.2 [count noun] (usually the ignition) The mechanism for bringing about ignition in an internal combustion engine, typically activated by a key or switch: she turned off the ignition...
- Buffy switched off the ignition and leaned forward, resting her forehead on the steering wheel.
- Alice quickly followed her, closed the door, fumbled with the key before finally getting it into the ignition, switched in on, then took a few deep breaths.
- He claimed he couldn't switch off the ignition because modern Renaults have a magnetic card ‘key’ system and he was unable to remove the card while on the run.
Origin
Early 17th century (denoting the heating of a substance to the point of combustion or chemical change): from medieval Latin ignitio(n-), from the verb ignire 'set on fire' (see ignite).
Ignition initially meant heating something to the point of combustion or chemical change. The Latin ignire ‘set on fire’, from ignis ‘fire’ is also found in igneous rock (mid 17th century) for solidified magma.