combustion
[ kuh m-buhs-chuh n ]
/ kəmˈbʌs tʃən /
noun
the act or process of burning.
Chemistry.
- rapid oxidation accompanied by heat and, usually, light.
- chemical combination attended by production of heat and light.
- slow oxidation not accompanied by high temperature and light.
violent excitement; tumult.
Origin of combustion
OTHER WORDS FROM combustion
Words nearby combustion
Example sentences from the Web for combustion
British Dictionary definitions for combustion
combustion
/ (kəmˈbʌstʃən) /
noun
the process of burning
any process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to produce a significant rise in temperature and the emission of light
a chemical process in which two compounds, such as sodium and chlorine, react together to produce heat and light
a process in which a compound reacts slowly with oxygen to produce little heat and no light
Derived forms of combustion
combustive, noun, adjectiveWord Origin for combustion
C15: from Old French, from Latin
combūrere to burn up, from
com- (intensive) +
ūrere to burn
Medical definitions for combustion
combustion
[ kəm-bŭs′chən ]
n.
The process of burning.
A chemical change, especially oxidation, accompanied by the production of heat and light.
Scientific definitions for combustion
combustion
[ kəm-bŭs′chən ]
The process of burning.
A chemical change, especially through the rapid combination of a substance with oxygen, producing heat and, usually, light. See also spontaneous combustion.
Cultural definitions for combustion
combustion
Burning; a chemical reaction that involves the rapid combination of a fuel with oxygen. (See oxidation and spontaneous combustion.)