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Added 9 October 2026

combustion

/kəmˈbʌs.t͡ʃən/ noun

Latin root: combustio Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about combustion at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light.
A state of violent disturbance and excitement.
combustion grew until revolt was unavoidable
The act of burning something.
the burning of leaves was prohibited by a town ordinance

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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