ignition

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noun ig·ni·tion \ ig-ˈni-shən \

Definition of ignition

1 :the act or action of igniting: such as

a :the starting of a fire

b :the heating of a plasma to a temperature high enough to sustain nuclear fusion

2 a :the process or means (such as an electric spark) of igniting a fuel mixture

b :a device that activates an ignition system (as in an automobile)

put the key in the ignition

See ignition defined for English-language learners

See ignition defined for kids

Examples of ignition in a Sentence

There's a problem with the car's ignition.

Recent Examples of ignition from the Web

Americans are finding themselves back in the uneasy practice of imagining not the end of the world, but all the intermediate steps between now and then—the first warnings on the news, the orange streaks in the sky, the agony of waiting for ignition.

— robinson meyer, The Atlantic, "Nuclear Anxiety Returns to America," 12 Aug. 2017
Meanwhile, Hand, a senior, was not driving but was sleeping at the wheel of the car with the keys in the ignition in a parking lot when he was arrested Saturday.

— matt zenitz, AL.com, "Former Alabama receiver lands at FCS school," 2 Aug. 2017
According to Laura Jane (now) Maltby, this was the kind of place where the house was never locked, the keys were left in the ignition in the cars in the driveway.

— fletcher page, The Courier-Journal, "After it took care of him, Joe B. Hall will forever watch over Cynthiana," 26 July 2017
Many of the thefts involve the car's owner leaving keys in the ignition and the engine running.

— devin kelly, Alaska Dispatch News, "A police theory on Anchorage’s spike in stolen cars: Free taxis for drug dealers and burglars," 13 July 2017
The ignition key had reportedly been left in the car.

— irv leavitt, chicagotribune.com, "Northbrook police: Businesses burglarized on same night," 10 July 2017
Add another item to the list of once-common features — including ashtrays, spare tires and turn-the-key ignition switches — disappearing from new cars: fog lamps.

— james g. cobb, New York Times, "Why Fog Lamps Are Starting to Disappear," 29 June 2017
GM has been defending against hundreds of lawsuits over faulty ignition switches that could cause engines to stall and prevent airbags from deploying in crashes.

— reuters, Fortune, "GM Settles Hundreds of Ignition Switch Lawsuits," 23 June 2017
A similar pool set up by General Motors paid out nearly $600 million to settle 399 death and injury claims due to ignition switches that could shut off cars without warning.

— tom krisher, chicagotribune.com, "Experts: Takata bankruptcy means air bag victims get less," 20 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ignition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of ignition

1612

IGNITION Defined for English Language Learners

ignition

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noun

Definition of ignition for English Language Learners

: the electrical system in an engine that causes the fuel to burn so that the engine begins working
: the device that is used to start a car's engine
: the act of causing something to start burning : the act of igniting something

IGNITION Defined for Kids

ignition

play

noun ig·ni·tion \ ig-ˈni-shən \

Definition of ignition for Students

1 :the act of causing something to start burning

2 :the process or means (as an electric spark) of causing the fuel in an engine to burn so that the engine begins working

3 :a device that is used to start a motor vehicle

Put the key in the ignition.

Learn More about ignition

See words that rhyme with ignition Spanish Central: Translation of ignition Nglish: Translation of ignition for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ignition for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ignition

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ignition

Definition of ignition

Examples of ignition in a Sentence

Recent Examples of ignition from the Web

First Known Use of ignition

IGNITION Defined for English Language Learners

ignition

Definition of ignition for English Language Learners

IGNITION Defined for Kids

ignition

Definition of ignition for Students

Learn More about ignition

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ignition

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First Known Use of ignition

IGNITION Defined for English Language Learners

ignition

Definition of ignition for English Language Learners

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ignition

Definition of ignition for Students

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