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 combustive
There was that combustive row over guns, in which two (and maybe three, pending results) anti-gun legislators were recalled.
It was found to include the cases of combustive operations, the production of acids, the breathing of animals.
History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume II (of 2) |John William Draper
British Dictionary definitions for combustive
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 combustive
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 combustive
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 combustive
combustion
Burning; a chemical reaction that involves the rapid combination of a fuel with oxygen. (See oxidation and spontaneous combustion.)