combustion

UK: /kəmˈbʌstʃən/ US: /kəmˈbʌstʃən/ ,(kəm bus′chən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

com•bus•tion /kəmˈbʌstʃən/   n. [uncountable]

1. Physics the act or process of burning:
   combustion of fuel and air in a chamber.

com•bus•tive, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

com•bus•tion  (kəm bus′chən), n. 

1. Physics the act or process of burning.
2. Chemistry
   • rapid oxidation accompanied by heat and, usually, light.
   • chemical combination attended by production of heat and light.
   • slow oxidation not accompanied by high temperature and light.
3. violent excitement;
   tumult.

• Late Latin combūstiōn- (stem of combūstiō). See combust, -ion
• Middle French)
• late Middle English (1400–50

com•bus′tive, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

combustion / kəmˈbʌstʃən/ noun

1. the process of burning
2. any process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to produce a significant rise in temperature and the emission of light
3. a chemical process in which two compounds, such as sodium and chlorine, react together to produce heat and light

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French, from Latin combūrere to burn up, from com- (intensive) + ūrere to burn

comˈbustive noun , adjective