combustion

/kəmˈbʌstʃən/ (bre, ipa) · /kəmˈbʌstʃən/ (ame, ipa) · /kəm-ˈbəs-chən/ (ame, mw)

combustion — noun

1. the process by which something catches fire and burns, producing heat, flames, a

1.名詞B2
釋義

the process by which something catches fire and burns, producing heat, flames, and usually smoke

例句

The warehouse reached full combustion within minutes of the first spark.

full combustion — stage of most intense burning

Spontaneous combustion of old hay can cause dangerous barn fires.

spontaneous combustion — fire starting without an obvious ignition source

同義詞
  • burning

    the everyday word for the same process; less formal than combustion

  • ignition

    refers specifically to the moment when fire starts, not the ongoing process

反義詞
  • extinguishing

    the act of putting out a fire and stopping combustion

用法筆記

Combustion is an uncountable noun and cannot be used in the plural. It is more formal and technical than the everyday word 'burning', which is preferred in casual speech.

常見錯誤

❌There were several combustions in the old factory last year.
✅There were several cases of combustion in the old factory last year.
💡Combustion is uncountable and does not take a plural form.
❌Combustion can happen without any oxygen present.
✅Combustion requires oxygen to take place.
💡Combustion is a chemical reaction that cannot happen without oxygen.

2. a chemical reaction in which a material reacts rapidly with oxygen, producing he

2.名詞C1
釋義

a chemical reaction in which a material reacts rapidly with oxygen, producing heat and light, such as in an engine or a fire

例句

In chemistry class, Leila studied how combustion releases energy from different types of fuel.

combustion + releases energy — describes the chemical output of the reaction

During the lab experiment, Yusuf measured the products of methane combustion: carbon dioxide and water vapour.

combustion of [fuel] — standard scientific noun pattern with 'of'

同義詞
  • burning

    less precise; used in everyday contexts rather than scientific writing

  • oxidation

    a broader category that includes combustion as well as slower reactions like rusting

用法筆記

In scientific writing, combustion is often modified by adjectives such as 'complete', 'incomplete', 'rapid', and 'slow'. The phrase 'combustion of [fuel]' is the standard way to specify what is burning. This sense is distinct from sense 1 in that it emphasizes the chemical mechanism (reaction with oxygen) rather than the visible act of burning.

常見錯誤

❌Combustion is the same as explosion.
✅Combustion can lead to an explosion, but they are not the same thing.
💡Combustion is the chemical reaction; an explosion is a rapid expansion of gases that may result from combustion.
❌Complete combustion of petrol produces carbon monoxide.
✅Complete combustion of petrol produces carbon dioxide and water.
💡Incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide; complete combustion produces CO₂ and H₂O.