phlogiston
[ floh-jis-ton, -tuh n ]
/ floʊˈdʒɪs tɒn, -tən /
noun
a nonexistent chemical that, prior to the discovery of oxygen, was thought to be released during combustion.
Origin of phlogiston
1720–30; < New Latin: inflammability, noun use of Greek
phlogistón, neuter of
phlogistós inflammable, burnt up; see
phlogistic
Words nearby phlogiston
phlm.,
phloem,
phloem necrosis,
phloem ray,
phlogistic,
phlogiston,
phlogopite,
phlorizin,
phloroglucinol,
phlox,
phlox family
Example sentences from the Web for phlogiston
British Dictionary definitions for phlogiston
phlogiston
/ (flɒˈdʒɪstɒn, -tən) /
noun
chem
a hypothetical substance formerly thought to be present in all combustible materials and to be released during burning
Word Origin for phlogiston
C18: via New Latin from Greek, from
phlogizein to set alight; related to
phlegein to burn
Scientific definitions for phlogiston
phlogiston
[ flō-jĭs′tən ]
A hypothetical colorless, odorless, weightless substance once believed to be the combustible part of all flammable substances and to be given off as flame during burning. In the 18th century, Antoine Lavoisier proved that phlogiston does not exist. See Note at Lavoisier.