noun
combustion
kuhm-BUHS-chuhn
noun
1
The chemical process of burning, in which a substance reacts with oxygen to release heat and light.
"Combustion inside the engine's cylinders drives the pistons."
"Incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide as well as carbon dioxide."
How to Use Combustion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe scientific process of burning — fuel reacting with oxygen to release energy.
Common pairings
internal combustion engine
combustion chamber
spontaneous combustion
Word Forms
combustions plural
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_____ inside the engine's cylinders drives the pistons.
Etymology
From Old French combustion, from Latin combustio, from comburere ("to burn up").