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flash point

 - 4 dictionary results

flash point

 
Use flash point in a Sentence
–noun
1. Also, flashing point. Physical Chemistry. the lowest temperature at which a liquid in a specified apparatus will give off sufficient vapor to ignite momentarily on application of a flame.
2. a critical point or stage at which something or someone suddenly causes or creates some significant action: A 10 percent drop in mortgage rates will produce a flash point in the housing market.
3. a critical situation or area having the potential of erupting in sudden violence: The Mideast has been the flash point for a series of conflicts.
Also, flashpoint.

Origin:
1875–80
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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flash point also flash·point   (flāsh'point')
n.  

  1. The lowest temperature at which the vapor of a combustible liquid can be made to ignite momentarily in air.

  2. The point at which eruption into significant action, creation, or violence occurs: "The shootdown did not increase international tensions to the flash point" (Seymour M. Hersh).

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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Cultural Dictionary

flash point

For a given flammable substance, the lowest temperature at which vapors passing from the substance into the air will catch fire spontaneously if a small flame is present.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

flash point

the lowest temperature at which a petroleum product will burn. Below this temperature insufficient petroleum vapour is available to support combustion. Before gasoline became important, kerosene was the main petroleum product produced. The tendency to leave as much of the highly volatile gasoline as possible in the kerosene caused numerous fires and explosions in tanks and oil lamps. Legal measures were instituted to curb the danger, and test methods were prescribed and minimum flash points set

Learn more about flash point with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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