COMBUST

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does combust mean? 

• COMBUST (verb)
  The verb COMBUST has 5 senses:

1. cause to burn or combust

2. start to burn or burst into flames

3. get very angry and fly into a rage

4. cause to become violent or angry

5. undergo combustion

  Familiarity information: COMBUST used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMBUST (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they combust    ... he / she / it combusts   
Past simple: combusted   
Past participle: combusted   
-ing form: combusting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to burn or combust

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Synonyms:

burn; combust

Context example:

We combust coal and other fossil fuels

Cause:

burn; combust (undergo combustion)

Verb group:

catch fire; combust; conflagrate; erupt; ignite; take fire (start to burn or burst into flames)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "combust"):

ignite; light (cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat)

set ablaze; set afire; set aflame; set on fire (set fire to; cause to start burning)

char; coal (burn to charcoal)

deflagrate (cause to burn rapidly and with great intensity)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

combustible (capable of igniting and burning)

combustion (the act of burning something)

combustive (supporting combustion)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Start to burn or burst into flames

Classified under:

Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

Synonyms:

catch fire; combust; conflagrate; erupt; ignite; take fire

Context example:

The oily rags combusted spontaneously

Hypernyms (to "combust" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Verb group:

burn; combust (cause to burn or combust)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "combust"):

blow out (erupt in an uncontrolled manner)

catch (start burning)

light up (start to burn with a bright flame)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

combustible (capable of igniting and burning)

combustive (supporting combustion)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Get very angry and fly into a rage

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

blow a fuse; blow one's stack; blow up; combust; flip one's lid; flip one's wig; fly off the handle; go ballistic; have a fit; have kittens; hit the ceiling; hit the roof; lose one's temper; throw a fit

Context example:

Spam makes me go ballistic

Hypernyms (to "combust" is one way to...):

rage (feel intense anger)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 4

Meaning:

Cause to become violent or angry

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

Riots combusted Pakistan after the U.S. air attacks on Afghanistan

Hypernyms (to "combust" is one way to...):

anger (make angry)

Cause:

blow a fuse; blow one's stack; blow up; combust; flip one's lid; flip one's wig; fly off the handle; go ballistic; have a fit; have kittens; hit the ceiling; hit the roof; lose one's temper; throw a fit (get very angry and fly into a rage)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Undergo combustion

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

burn; combust

Context example:

Maple wood burns well

Hypernyms (to "combust" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Verb group:

burn; burn down; fire (destroy by fire)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "combust"):

burn down; burn up; go up (burn completely; be consumed or destroyed by fire)

smolder; smoulder (burn slowly and without a flame)

scorch; sear; singe (become superficially burned)

deflagrate (burn with great heat and intense light)

flame (be in flames or aflame)

blaze up; burn up; flame up; flare (burn brightly)

blaze (burn brightly and intensely)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

combustible (capable of igniting and burning)

combustion (a process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light)

combustive (supporting combustion)