combust

verb

com·​bust kəm-ˈbəst 

combusted; combusting; combusts

: burn

Synonyms

• blaze
• burn
• flame
• glow

Examples of combust in a Sentence

anthracite, which is naturally hard, combusts more cleanly than bituminous coal

Recent Examples on the Web

In conventional designs, air is compressed by an axial compressor, mixed with fuel, and combusted continuously. —Vikram Mittal, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

Carlson’s images combust with metaphysical abundance. —Jeremy Lybarger, ARTnews.com, 6 Jan. 2025

Diesel heaters work by combusting fuel to warm up a heating element. —Wes Siler, Outside Online, 23 Dec. 2021

One advantage is that LEDs are cooler and less likely to combust or burn. —Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

derivative of earlier combust, combusted "burned, consumed," going back to Middle English combust, borrowed from Latin combustus, past participle of combūrere "to destroy with fire, reduce to ashes, calcine," from com- com- + ūrere "to expose to fire, burn, scorch" (with -b- from ambūrere "to burn around, scorch," falsely parsed as am- + būrere) — more at adust

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

combust

verb

com·​bust kəm-ˈbəst 

: to be or set on fire : burn