combustion
- 01 C1 Advanced
the process of burning something.
the chemical process of oxidation that occurs rapidly enough to produce heat and usually light.
Simple“The engine works by using the combustion of petrol to create power.”
In context“Spontaneous combustion occurs when a substance ignites without an external heat source, typically due to internal chemical reactions that generate sufficient heat.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun in scientific descriptions, but countable when referring to specific instances or types of the process.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
a state of great excitement, anger, or social trouble.
a state of violent agitation, tumult, or social upheaval.
Simple“The city was in a state of combustion after the unfair trial.”
In context“The political landscape was ripe for combustion, with decades of suppressed resentment finally reaching a flashpoint.”
Teacher's tipThis figurative sense is rare in modern speech; it is primarily found in older literature or high-level political commentary.
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.