n.
a. [ L. combustus, p. p. of comburere to burn up; com- + burere (only in comp.), of uncertain origin; cf. bustum funeral pyre, prurire to itch, pruna a live coal, Gr.
Planets that are oft combust. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The quality of being combustible. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ Cf. F. combustible. ]
Sin is to the soul like fire to combustible matter. South. [ 1913 Webster ]
Arnold was a combustible character. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A substance that may be set on fire, or which is liable to take fire and burn. [ 1913 Webster ]
All such combustibles as are cheap enough for common use go under the name of fuel. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Combustibility. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. combustio: cf. F. combustion. ]
Combustion results in common cases from the mutual chemical action and reaction of the combustible and the oxygen of the atmosphere, whereby a new compound is formed. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]
Supporter of combustion (Chem.),
There [ were ] great combustions and divisions among the heads of the university. Mede. [ 1913 Webster ]
But say from whence this new combustion springs. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
. (Mech.)
a. Inflammable. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ from
n. [ Cf. F. incombustilité. ] The quality of being incombustible. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ Pref. in- not + combustible: cf. F. incombustible. ] Not combustible; not capable of being burned, decomposed, or consumed by fire; uninflammable;
Incombustible cloth,
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a. (Mach.) Designating, or pertaining to, any engine (called an ) in which the heat or pressure energy necessary to produce motion is developed in the engine cylinder, as by the explosion of a gas, and not in a separate chamber, as in a steam-engine boiler. The gas used may be a fixed gas, or one derived from alcohol, ether, gasoline (petrol), naphtha, oil (petroleum), etc. There are three main classes: (1)
adj. Not combustible; not able to burn;
n. [ L. ] Same as Rhomb, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ NL. strombulus, dim. of strombus + -form. See Strombus. ]
‖n. [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_;. ] (Zool.) A genus of marine gastropods in which the shell has the outer lip dilated into a broad wing. It includes many large and handsome species commonly called
‖n.;