Combustion Meaning
/kəmˈbʌs.t͡ʃən/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe act or process of burning.
nounA process whereby two chemicals are combined to produce heat.
Sentence Examples
Oxygen is needed for combustion.
Pollutants like this derive mainly from the combustion of fuel in car engines.
Internal combustion engines burn a mixture of fuel and air.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The rapid ____ of the fuel produced a loud explosion and heat.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The engine is powered by the internal ____ of fuel.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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. 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:
"There [were] great combustions and divisions among the heads of the university."
— c. 1665, John Worthington, “The Works of the Pious and Profoundly-learned Joseph Mede”, in Life, The Author:
"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."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 44–49:
"But say from whence this new combustion springs."
— 1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1676, →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The rapid ____ of the fuel produced a loud explosion and heat.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The engine is powered by the internal ____ of fuel.