combustion

noun

com·​bus·​tion kəm-ˈbəs-chən 

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

kəm-ˈbə-stiv 

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

For many consumers, EVs' lower cost of ownership could be overshadowed by a higher sticker price relative to internal combustion. —Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 13 Aug. 2025

Clive Rose/Getty Images Steiner believes the four-time world champion will assess his options next year, when F1 enters a new era of regulations with entirely new cars, which will be powered by internal combustion and electric power, with the ratio split equally. —Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025

Even without federal tax incentives, these are vehicles that are price competitive with internal combustion vehicles and could even be profitable. —Sam Abuelsamid, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Four of the vehicles — a compact SUV, a car, a pickup, and a mid-size pickup — are targeted at Central and South American markets and will support both internal combustion and hybrid powertrains. —Nathan Gomes, Freep.com, 6 Aug. 2025

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

Phrases Containing combustion

• combustion chamber
• combustion engine
• external combustion engine
• internal combustion engine
• pre-combustion
• spontaneous combustion

Rhymes for combustion

• fustian

Kids Definition

combustion

noun

com·​bus·​tion kəm-ˈbəs-chən 

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 

: a usually very rapid chemical process (as oxidation) that produces heat and usually light

also : a slower oxidation (as in the body)