combustion

Meaning

Noun

• The act or process of burning.
• A process where two chemicals are combined to produce heat.
• A process wherein a fuel is combined with oxygen, usually at high temperature, releasing heat.
• Violent agitation, tumult.

Related

Similar words

• incineration, cremation

Narrower meaning words

• deflagration
• detonation

Origin

• From Old French combustion, from Latin combustio, from comburere, itself from the intensifying prefix com- + the root burere (a faulty sep. of amburere "to burn around", itself from ambi- + urere "to burn, singe"); equivalent to combust + -ion.