Word
ignite
Phoneticsig·nite
US/ˌɪɡˈnaɪt/
UK/ɪɡnˈaɪt/
Definitions
01to set on fire
v. to make something start burning.
v. to set fire to something or to cause a substance to begin the process of combustion. Transitive in this use.
“The spark from the campfire was enough to ignite the dry grass.”
“The fuel-air mixture must be compressed significantly before the spark plug can effectively ignite it within the cylinder.”
Antonyms
02to start burning
v. to catch fire and begin to burn.
v. to catch fire or begin to undergo combustion. Intransitive in this use.
“Gasoline can ignite easily if it is near a hot engine.”
“Materials stored in the warehouse were so unstable that they could ignite spontaneously if the temperature rose above thirty degrees.”
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04to heat strongly
v. to heat a substance to a very high temperature without burning it.
v. to subject a substance to intense heat, typically in a laboratory setting to remove volatile parts. Used for non-flammable materials.
“The chemist had to ignite the sample in a crucible to find its dry weight.”
“After the precipitate was filtered, it was necessary to ignite the residue at 800 degrees Celsius to ensure all organic matter was removed.”
Technical
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“However, data show that roads actually tend to increase the risk of fires igniting.” “The play’s star hopes international interest in Japanese theatre will also ignite a new energy back home.” Etymology
From Latin ignītus, past participle of igniō, ignire (“to set on fire, ignite”), from Latin ignis (“fire”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁n̥gʷnis, and thus related to Sanskrit अग्नि (agní), Lithuanian ugnis, and Russian ого́нь (ogónʹ).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/ignite