# combustion

/kəmˈbəstʃən/ (US) · /kəmbˈʌstʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/combustion
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. burning

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the process of burning something.

For teachers: the chemical process of oxidation that occurs rapidly enough to produce heat and usually light.

- The engine works by using the combustion of petrol to create power.
- Spontaneous combustion occurs when a substance ignites without an external heat source, typically due to internal chemical reactions that generate sufficient heat.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun in scientific descriptions, but countable when referring to specific instances or types of the process.

### 2. violent excitement

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

a state of great excitement, anger, or social trouble.

For teachers: a state of violent agitation, tumult, or social upheaval.

- The city was in a state of combustion after the unfair trial.
- The political landscape was ripe for combustion, with decades of suppressed resentment finally reaching a flashpoint.

Teaching tip: This figurative sense is rare in modern speech; it is primarily found in older literature or high-level political commentary.

## Examples

- Oxygen is necessary for combustion to occur.
- The internal combustion engine changed the world by allowing vehicles to travel long distances using liquid fuel.
- Spontaneous combustion remains a rare phenomenon where a substance ignites without an external heat source due to internal chemical reactions.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.