Library / English Dictionary

COMBUSTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of burning something

Example:

the burning of leaves was prohibited by a town ordinance

Synonyms:

burning; combustion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("combustion" is a kind of...):

change of integrity (the act of changing the unity or wholeness of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "combustion"):

arson; fire-raising; incendiarism (malicious burning to destroy property)

firing; ignition; inflammation; kindling; lighting (the act of setting something on fire)

incineration (the act of burning something completely; reducing it to ashes)

Derivation:

combust (cause to burn or combust)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light

Synonyms:

burning; combustion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Hypernyms ("combustion" is a kind of...):

oxidation; oxidisation; oxidization (the process of oxidizing; the addition of oxygen to a compound with a loss of electrons; always occurs accompanied by reduction)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "combustion"):

deflagration (combustion that propagates through a gas or along the surface of an explosive at a rapid rate driven by the transfer of heat)

fire; flame; flaming (the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke)

internal combustion (the combustion of fuel inside a cylinder (as in an internal-combustion engine))

Derivation:

combust (undergo combustion)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A state of violent disturbance and excitement

Example:

combustion grew until revolt was unavoidable

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("combustion" is a kind of...):

garboil; tumult; tumultuousness; uproar (a state of commotion and noise and confusion)

Credits

 Context examples: 

A yellowish, oily, aromatic nitro-compound with an almond-like odor that emits toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides upon combustion.

(Nitrobenzene, NCI Thesaurus)

Dibenz[a,j]acridine is primarily found in gasoline exhaust, petroleum refinery incinerator emissions, coal combustion emissions, cigarette smoke and coal tar pitch.

(Dibenz[a,j]acridine, NCI Thesaurus)

Benz[a,h]acridine is primarily found in petroleum refinery incinerator emissions, coal combustion emissions, cigarette smoke and coal tar pitch.

(Dibenz[a,h]acridine, NCI Thesaurus)

A yellowish-reddish, carcinogenic aromatic hydrocarbon consisting of six fused rings and produced by the incomplete combustion of organic matter.

(Dibenzo (a,l) pyrene, NCI Thesaurus)

An aromatic hydrocarbon that consists of six fused rings and is produced by the incomplete combustion of organic matter.

(Dibenzo[a,i]pyrene, NCI Thesaurus)

Found in the atmosphere as a key ingredient in photochemical formation of smog and acid rain, Nitrogen Dioxide is a poisonous gas that forms during combustion.

(Nitrogen Dioxide, NCI Thesaurus)

A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon produced during combustion of fuels exhibiting carcinogenic activity.

(Dimethylbenzanthracene, NCI Thesaurus)

A crystalline, aromatic hydrocarbon consisting of six fused rings and formed during the incomplete combustion of organic matter.

(Dibenzo[a,h]pyrene, NCI Thesaurus)

A yellowish-reddish, aromatic hydrocarbon consisting of six fused rings and produced by incomplete combustion of organic matter.

(Dibenzo[a,e]pyrene, NCI Thesaurus)

CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those made by cars and trucks, lanterns, stoves, gas ranges and heating systems.

(Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)