inflammable

EtymologyEdit

From Middle French inflammable, from Medieval Latin inflammabilis, from Latin inflammare (“to set on fire”), from in (“in, on”) + flamma (“flame”).

PronunciationEdit

• enPR: ĭnʹflăm-ə-bəl, IPA^(key): /ɪnˈflæməbəl/

AdjectiveEdit

inflammable (comparative more inflammable, superlative most inflammable)

1. Capable of burning; easily set on fire.
2. (figuratively) Easily excited; set off by the slightest excuse; easily enraged or inflamed.

Usage notesEdit

• Inflammable can be misinterpreted as an antonym of flammable and so taken to have the opposite meaning to that intended. Where such confusion might arise, especially where this may be a safety hazard, one may prefer to use flammable or another synonym.

SynonymsEdit

• (capable of burning): combustible, flammable
• (easily excited): hot-headed, quick to anger

AntonymsEdit

• (capable of burning): fireproof, incombustible, non-flammable
• (easily excited): level-headed, unflappable

Related termsEdit

• inflammability
• inflammation
• inflame

TranslationsEdit

External linksEdit

• inflammable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• inflammable in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

EtymologyEdit

Middle French inflammer +‎ -able, from Latin inflammabilis.

PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /ɛ̃.fla.mabl/
• Homophone: inflammables
• Hyphenation: in‧fla‧mmable

AdjectiveEdit

inflammable (masculine and feminine, plural inflammables)

1. flammable, inflammable

AntonymsEdit

• ininflammable

Derived termsEdit

• Condition: inflammabilité
• Antonym: ininflammable