combustion

Everyday

1. (science) Combustion is burning: a chemical reaction when a fuel joins with oxygen and gives out heat and light. tree →
2. An engine that burns fuel inside it is an internal combustion engine, like a car engine. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons pupils learn that combustion needs fuel, oxygen and heat (the fire triangle), and that it makes carbon dioxide and water. In safety, removing one side of the fire triangle puts a fire out. In everyday life, car engines and gas cookers use combustion.

Examples

• Combustion needs fuel, heat and oxygen. tree →
• A candle flame is an example of combustion. tree →
• Car engines use internal combustion. tree →
• Combustion of wood gives off smoke and ash. tree →
• We learned about the fire triangle and combustion. tree →
• Spontaneous combustion of a pile of oily rags can start a fire. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Verb «combust». Adjective «combustible» (can burn easily). Combustion is a chemical change: you cannot get the wood back.