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flammable

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The definition of flammable is something that is easy to set on fire.

(adjective)

Lighter fluid is an example of something flammable.

See flammable in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

easily set on fire; that will burn readily or quickly

Origin: L flammare, to flame + -able

Related Forms:

flammability noun

See flammable in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; inflammable.

Origin:

Origin: From Latin flammāre, to set fire to

Origin: , from flamma, flame; see bhel-¹ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

flamˌma·bilˈi·ty noun

flamˈma·ble noun

Usage Note: Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. However, the presence of the prefix in- has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means “not flammable” or “noncombustible.” The prefix -in in inflammable is not, however, the Latin negative prefix -in, which is related to the English -un and appears in such words as indecent and inglorious. Rather, this -in is an intensive prefix derived from the Latin preposition in. This prefix also appears in the word enflame. But many people are not aware of this derivation, and for clarity's sake it is advisable to use only flammable to give warnings.

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