combustion

noun

com·​bus·​tion kəm-ˈbəs-chən How to pronounce combustion (audio)
1
: an act or instance of burning
Smoke is produced during combustion.
2
: a usually rapid chemical process (such as oxidation) that produces heat and usually light
The carburetor mixes fuel with air for combustion.
also : a slower oxidation (as in the body)
3
: violent agitation : tumult
… periods of great social combustion alternating with quiescence …Kurt Andersen
combustive adjective

Examples of combustion in a Sentence

Combustion may occur at high temperatures. This ratio of air to fuel results in better combustion.
Recent Examples on the Web The combustion mill produces 888 hp and 627 ft lbs of torque on its own. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2024 However, 12 months later, the industry has come to realize that the transition away from combustion will not happen overnight. Sarwant Singh, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 Since 2015, the company has sold 90,000 illicit products, including exhaust systems that enabled vehicles to bypass pollution-stripping catalytic converters and software that augmented engine combustion, the EPA said. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2024 Debris fires that burned through the end of 2001 and flared up throughout 2002 also released carcinogenic combustion byproducts into the air. Lindsey Leake, Fortune Well, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for combustion 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'combustion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English combustioun "burning, calcination," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French combustion, borrowed from Late Latin combustiōn-, combustiō "burning up (of the dead or by the fires in hell)," from Latin combus-, variant stem of combūrere "to destroy with fire, reduce to ashes" + -tiōn-, tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at combust

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of combustion was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near combustion

Cite this Entry

“Combustion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combustion. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

combustion

noun
com·​bus·​tion kəm-ˈbəs-chən How to pronounce combustion (audio)
1
: an act or instance of burning
2
: a chemical process in which substances combine with oxygen

Medical Definition

combustion

noun
com·​bus·​tion kəm-ˈbəs-chən How to pronounce combustion (audio)
: a usually very rapid chemical process (as oxidation) that produces heat and usually light
also : a slower oxidation (as in the body)

More from Merriam-Webster on combustion

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