inflammable

/ɪnˈflæməbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈflæməbl/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈfla-mə-bəl/ (ame, mw)

inflammable — adjective

  • inflammablepositive
  • more inflammablecomparative
  • most inflammablesuperlative

1. describing a liquid, gas, or material that starts to burn with almost no effort,

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describing a liquid, gas, or material that starts to burn with almost no effort, so a small spark or flame can set it alight

例句

Petrol is highly inflammable, so Tamar never smokes near the fuel pumps.

highly inflammable for very easy to ignite

The old wooden barn was full of inflammable hay and dry straw.

inflammable + noun describing the material

同義詞
  • flammable

    exact synonym and the clearer everyday choice; preferred on safety labels

  • combustible

    more technical; common in engineering and fire-safety contexts

  • ignitable

    formal; stresses that a flame or spark can start the burning

反義詞
  • non-flammable

    the standard label for materials that do not catch fire

  • fireproof

    stronger: built to survive fire, not merely resist catching it

文法句型

highly inflammable

an inflammable [substance]

用法筆記

Despite the prefix 'in-', this word does NOT mean 'cannot burn'. It means exactly the same as 'flammable'. Because the 'in-' confuses people, safety labels now prefer 'flammable' for warnings and 'non-flammable' for the opposite.

常見錯誤

❌The blanket is inflammable, so it is safe near the fire.
✅The blanket is flame-resistant, so it is safe near the fire.
💡'inflammable' means it burns easily, NOT that it resists fire.
❌These gloves are inflammable and protect your hands from heat.
✅These gloves are non-flammable and protect your hands from heat.
💡to say something will not catch fire, use 'non-flammable', never 'inflammable'.

2. used about a person, mood, or set of events that can flare into anger or violenc

2.形容詞C1
釋義

used about a person, mood, or set of events that can flare into anger or violence in seconds, with little to hold it back

例句

The crowded square became inflammable the moment the police raised their batons.

inflammable describing a tense situation

Samir has an inflammable temper and shouts whenever a meeting runs late.

inflammable temper for a quick fuse

同義詞
  • volatile

    most common modern equivalent for tense situations that may turn ugly

  • explosive

    vivid; stresses a sudden, dramatic outburst

  • irascible

    formal; describes a person who is easily angered by nature

反義詞
  • calm

    of a person or mood: unlikely to flare up

  • stable

    of a situation: not at risk of turning violent

文法句型

an inflammable temper

an inflammable situation

用法筆記

Distinct from sense 1: here nothing physically burns. This figurative sense is formal and literary; in everyday speech people say 'short-tempered' (for a person) or 'tense' / 'explosive' (for a situation).

常見錯誤

❌Abigail felt inflammable after the long flight.
✅Abigail felt irritable after the long flight.
💡this sense needs a tendency to explode into anger, not just ordinary tiredness or mild annoyance.