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combust

 - 2 dictionary results

com⋅bust

  [kuhm-buhst]
Use combust in a Sentence
–verb (used without object), verb (used with object)
burn.
Origin:
1325–75; ME < L combūstus (ptp. of combūrere to burn up, equiv. to com- com- + -ūs- var. s. of ūrere to burn + -tus ptp. suffix; -b- by misanalysis of ambūrere, another deriv., as am- + -būrere)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To combust
com·bust   (kəm-bŭst')   
v.   com·bust·ed, com·bust·ing, com·busts

v.   intr.

    1. To catch fire; burst into flame: The fire started when a pile of oily rags spontaneously combusted.

    2. 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.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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