conflagration

Everyday

1. (formal) A very large, destructive fire that spreads widely. tree →
2. (formal) A big war or conflict. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons it describes great fires such as the Great Fire of London (1666) or the Great Chicago Fire (1871). In news and old writing, a «conflagration» can also mean a war that spreads. It tells the reader the fire or conflict is huge. Everyday English says «a huge fire» or «blaze».

Examples

• The Great Fire of London was a terrible conflagration. tree →
• The conflagration destroyed hundreds of homes. tree →
• Firefighters battled the conflagration all night. tree →
• Dry bushland can turn a small spark into a conflagration. tree →
• Leaders feared the border fight would become a wider conflagration. tree →
• Only stone buildings survived the conflagration. tree →
• The smoke drove across the scene of the conflagration, and the wind carried it away. tree →

Note

Countable: a conflagration, conflagrations. Formal. Say «kon-fluh-GRAY-shun». From Latin «flagrare» (to blaze), as in «flagrant».