Meaning & use

combustion

noun·Academic

The chemical process of burning, in which a substance reacts with oxygen to release heat and light.

See it in a sentence

The engine relies on the combustion of fuel to generate power.

Incomplete combustion in the fireplace filled the room with smoke.

A note on using this word

Combustion is the precise scientific term for burning, commonly used in chemistry, engineering, and discussions of engines.

Words with a similar meaning

burning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “combustion”, then compare your use with the examples above.

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