combust

verb

com·​bust kəm-ˈbəst 

combusted; combusting; combusts

: burn

Synonyms

• blaze
• burn
• flame
• glow

Examples of combust in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The debacle of Biden-Trump II was the exception that proves the rule—to meet the threshold for mattering, a sitting President must spontaneously combust on live TV. —Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2024

Although sustainable fuel is still combusted in the same way as regular gasoline, it is produced in part by capturing carbon from the atmosphere. —Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024

Immune to the fact it could currently be conceived as tone deaf to share pictures of the spoils of one’s gym routines are, of course, the Kardashians, who might spontaneously combust without sharing a flash of torso every now and again. —Alice Newbold, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2024

At this description, Dr. T nearly combusts into a rhinestone supernova. —Brennan Kilbane, Allure, 5 Aug. 2024

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

Kids Definition

combust

verb

com·​bust kəm-ˈbəst 

: to be or set on fire : burn