combustible

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /kəmˈbʌstəbəl/ UK /kəmˈbʌstəbəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #38121

Meanings

1

adj
capable of catching fire and burning

Paint thinner is highly combustible and must be stored away from sparks.
2

noun
a material or substance that can burn, especially one used as fuel

The crew removed every combustible from the area around the furnace.
3

adj
figurative: easily excited to anger, conflict, or violent action

The dispute became more dangerous when a combustible crowd gathered outside.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · capable of catching fire... flammableburnableignitable

2 noun · a material or substance... fuelcombustible materialburnable substance

3 adj · figurative: easily excited... volatile irascible fiery

Opposites

noncombustiblefireproofinert

Word family

Forms combustibles

Derived forms combustibilitycombustiblynoncombustible

Related forms combust combustion ignition fuel inflammable

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

combustible material
a substance capable of burning to release heat

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Borrowed in the early sixteenth century from French combustible, from Late Latin combustibilis, based on Latin combustus, 'burned up,' the past participle of comburere, 'to burn completely.' The figurative sense compares an excitable person or situation to material ready to ignite.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# combustible

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /kəmˈbʌstəbəl/
**IPA (UK):** /kəmˈbʌstəbəl/
**Frequency rank:** 38121

## Meanings
1. capable of catching fire and burning
2. a material or substance that can burn, especially one used as fuel
3. figurative: easily excited to anger, conflict, or violent action

## Examples
- Paint thinner is highly combustible and must be stored away from sparks.
- The crew removed every combustible from the area around the furnace.
- The dispute became more dangerous when a combustible crowd gathered outside.

## Synonyms
- flammable
- burnable
- ignitable
- fuel
- volatile
- irascible

## Antonyms
- noncombustible
- fireproof
- inert

## Derived Forms
- combustibility
- combustibly
- noncombustible

## Related Forms
- combust
- combustion
- ignition
- fuel
- inflammable

## Etymology
Borrowed in the early sixteenth century from French combustible, from Late Latin combustibilis, based on Latin combustus, 'burned up,' the past participle of comburere, 'to burn completely.' The figurative sense compares an excitable person or situation to material ready to ignite.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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