kəmˈbəschən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin combustion-, combustio, from Latin combustus (past participle of comburere to burn up, irregular — influenced by amburere to burn up, from ambi- + urere — from com- + urere to burn) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at ember
1. : a process or instance of burning: as
a. : any chemical process accompanied by the evolution of light and heat, being typically a vigorous union of substances with oxygen ; sometimes : slower oxidation (as in the animal body)
b. in quantitative analysis : the entire operation of burning a measured portion of a substance to be analyzed and collecting the products — see combustion method
2. : violent agitation : confusion , tumult
the wasteful, uncontrolled combustion of Nasser's early career — R.C.Doty