combustion
See also: combustión
English edit
Etymology edit
From Old French combustion, from Latin combustio, from comburere (“to burn”), 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.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
combustion (countable and uncountable, plural combustions)
- (chemistry) The act or process of burning.
- A process whereby two chemicals are combined to produce heat.
- A process wherein a fuel is combined with oxygen, usually at high temperature, releasing heat.
- (dated or archaicizing, figuratively) Violent agitation, tumult.
- c. 1620s, Elizabeth Cary [misattributed to Henry Cary], The History Of the most unfortunate Prince King Edward II. […] , London: A.G. and F. P., published 1680, page 32:
- From this ground, with a kind of loose scorn, he continues the French Correspondence, and secretly contriveth a continuance of the Scotish Rebellion. He omits no Act of Contempt against the antient Nobility, that they might in the sence of their disgrace be, or at least dayly threaten some new Combustion.
- c. 1665, John Worthington, “The Works of the Pious and Profoundly-learned Joseph Mede”, in Life, The Author:
- There [were] great combustions and divisions among the heads of the university.
- 1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 44–49:
- Him the Almighty Power / Hurld headlong flaming from th' Etherial Skie / With hideous Ruine and combustion down / To bottomless perdition, there to dwell / In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire, / Who durst defie th' Omnipotent to Arms.
- 1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1676, →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
- But say from whence this new combustion springs.
Synonyms edit
- (act or process of burning): incineration, cremation
Hyponyms edit
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
the act or process of burning
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similar process where two chemicals are combined
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process wherein a fuel is combined with oxygen
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violent agitation, commotion
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Translations to be checked
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French edit
Etymology edit
From Old French combustion, from Latin combustiōnem, from comburere (“to burn”), itself from the intensifying prefix com- + the root burere (a faulty sep. of amburere "to burn around", itself from ambi- + urere "to burn, singe").
Pronunciation edit
- IPA(key): /kɔ̃.bys.tjɔ̃/
Audio (file) - Homophone: combustions
- Hyphenation: com‧bus‧tion
Noun edit
combustion f (plural combustions)
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Further reading edit
- “combustion”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.