flammable
[ flam-uh-buh l ]
/ ˈflæm ə bəl /
adjective
easily set on fire; combustible; inflammable.
Origin of flammable
1805–15; < Latin
flammā(re) to set on fire +
-ble
usage note for flammable
See
inflammable.
OTHER WORDS FROM flammable
flam·ma·bil·i·ty, nounWords nearby flammable
flamingo,
flamingo-flower,
flaminian way,
flamininus,
flaminius,
flammable,
flammarion,
flamsteed,
flamy,
flan,
flan ring
British Dictionary definitions for flammability
flammable
/ (ˈflæməbəl) /
adjective
liable to catch fire; readily combustible; inflammable
Derived forms of flammable
flammability, nounusage for flammable
Flammable and
inflammable are interchangeable when used of the properties of materials.
Flammable is, however, often preferred for warning labels as there is less likelihood of misunderstanding (
inflammable being sometimes taken to mean
not flammable).
Inflammable is preferred in figurative contexts:
this could prove to be an inflammable situation