combust
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com·bust
(kəm-bŭst′)v. com·bust·ed, com·bust·ing, com·busts
v.intr.
1.
a. To catch fire; burst into flame: The fire started when a pile of oily rags spontaneously combusted.
b. To undergo combustion; burn: As the fuels were combusting they gave off noxious vapors.
2. To become suddenly angry or agitated: The defendant combusted when he heard the verdict.
v.tr.
1. To cause to burn; ignite.
2. To cause to become angry or violent: riots that are combusting whole provinces.
[Back-formation from combustion.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
combust
(kəmˈbʌst)adj
(Astrology) astrology (of a star or planet) invisible for a period between 24 and 30 days each year due to its proximity to the sun
vb
(Chemistry) chem to burn
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
com•bust
(kəmˈbʌst)v.i., v.t. -bust•ed, -bust•ing.
to burn.
[1325–75; Middle English < Latin combūstus, past participle of combūrere to burn up]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
combust
Past participle: combusted
Gerund: combusting
Imperative |
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combust |
combust |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Verb | 1. | combust - cause to burn or combust; "The sun burned off the fog"; "We combust coal and other fossil fuels" ignite, light - cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat; "Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter"; "Light a cigarette" set ablaze, set afire, set aflame, set on fire - set fire to; cause to start burning; "Lightening set fire to the forest" catch fire, take fire, ignite, combust, conflagrate, erupt - start to burn or burst into flames; "Marsh gases ignited suddenly"; "The oily rags combusted spontaneously" |
2. | combust - start to burn or burst into flames; "Marsh gases ignited suddenly"; "The oily rags combusted spontaneously" change state, turn - undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; "We turned from Socialism to Capitalism"; "The people turned against the President when he stole the election" blow out - erupt in an uncontrolled manner; "The oil well blew out" catch - start burning; "The fire caught" light up - start to burn with a bright flame; "The coal in the BBQ grill finally lit up" | |
3. | combust - get very angry and fly into a rage; "The professor combusted when the student didn't know the answer to a very elementary question"; "Spam makes me go ballistic" flip one's lid, flip one's wig, fly off the handle, go ballistic, have a fit, have kittens, hit the ceiling, hit the roof, lose one's temper, throw a fit, blow a fuse, blow one's stack, blow up rage - feel intense anger; "Rage against the dying of the light!" | |
4. | combust - cause to become violent or angry; "Riots combusted Pakistan after the U.S. air attacks on Afghanistan" anger - make angry; "The news angered him" | |
5. | combust - undergo combustion; "Maple wood burns well" change state, turn - undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; "We turned from Socialism to Capitalism"; "The people turned against the President when he stole the election" burn down, burn up, go up - burn completely; be consumed or destroyed by fire; "The hut burned down"; "The mountain of paper went up in flames" deflagrate - burn with great heat and intense light; "the powder deflagrated" flame - be in flames or aflame; "The sky seemed to flame in the Hawaiian sunset" blaze - burn brightly and intensely; "The summer sun alone can cause a pine to blaze" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
combust
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.