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

The engine for Japan's flagship small rocket, the Epsilon S, exploded during a combustion test on Tuesday, marking the second consecutive failure in its development. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024

Prior research has already suggested that long-term exposure to PM 2.5 — fine particles present in the emissions of fossil fuel combustion — is associated with incident dementia: the first visit in which a patient receives a clinical diagnosis of this condition. —Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 25 Nov. 2024

Cupra sold just under 250,000 cars last year from a standing start of zero in 2017, and that covers combustion, plug-in hybrid and BEV powertrains. —Michael Taylor, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

The filing also details TVA's compliance with environmental regulations, including the management of coal combustion residuals and the implementation of a groundwater monitoring program. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024

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

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)