[verb] [formal] - to (cause to) start burning or explodeThe fuel spontaneously ignites because of the high temperature and pressure. [I](figurative) The murder of the young black mother was the spark which ignited (= caused to happen) the explosion of rioting. [T]
IGNITE
Meaning of IGNITE in English
Cambridge English vocab. Кембриджский английский словарь. 2012