combust

verb

com·​bust kəm-ˈbəst 

combusted; combusting; combusts

: burn

Synonyms of combust

• burn
• glow
• flame

Examples of combust in a Sentence

anthracite, which is naturally hard, combusts more cleanly than bituminous coal

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than heating massive reactors inefficiently from the outside or burning methane, the team placed a burner directly inside the reactor to combust a small portion of hydrogen. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026

As staff piled more rags on top, the temperature inside the trash can rose, causing the materials to spontaneously combust. — Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Unlike SpaceX's current workhorse launcher Falcon 9, which burns a form of the aviation fuel kerosene, Starship combusts the much cleaner combination of methane and liquid oxygen. — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026

In another sequence, vast acres of parched, golden wheat fields suddenly combust into flames while being industrially harvested. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

derivative of earlier combust, combusted "burned, consumed," going back to Middle English combust, borrowed from Latin combustus, past participle of combūrere "to destroy with fire, reduce to ashes, calcine," from com- com- + ūrere "to expose to fire, burn, scorch" (with -b- from ambūrere "to burn around, scorch," falsely parsed as am- + būrere) — more at adust

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for combust

• adjust
• discussed
• disgust
• distrust
• entrust
• intrust
• mistrust
• nonplussed
• robust
• sawdust
• stardust
• unjust

Kids Definition

combust

verb

com·​bust kəm-ˈbəst 

: to be or set on fire : burn