ignite Hear it!

ignite Definition

ig·nite (ig nīt′)

transitive verb -·nit′ed, -·nit′·ing

  1. to set fire to; cause to burn
  2. to heat to a great degree; make glow with heat
  3. to arouse the feelings of; excite

Etymology: < L ignitus, pp. of ignire, to set on fire < ignis: see igneous

intransitive verb

to catch on fire; start burning

ignite Related Forms
ig·nit′·able adjective or ig·nit′·ible ig·nit′er noun or ig·ni′·tor
ignite Synonyms

ignite

v.

kindle, enkindle, light, set on fire, strike a light, start up, burst into flames, touch off, touch a match to, set off, inflame; see also burn 1, 2.

ignite Usage Examples

Object

  • fire-damp: Tho they only occur m small amounts they tend to make fire-damp more easily ignited and consequently more dangerous.
  • firestorm: The Webb stories were hard to ignore, for they had ignited a firestorm.
  • spark: Maybe St. Cuthbert's ignited a spark or maybe it's in the genes.
  • imagination: Oakley as a brand is driven to ignite the imagination through the fusion of art and science.
  • gunpowder: With any luck it would ignite the gunpowder causing an explosion - which would cause the cannon ball to leave the gun.
  • flame: Now ignite a single flame, shadows form, let light remain.

Preposition: on

  • contact: Greek fire was a liquid that ignited on contact with water.

Subject

  • spark: The blast was attributed to an unusual build-up of stomach gases ignited by the sparks.
  • bomb: In all 30 houses were ignited by the incendiary bombs.

Modifying Another Word

  • spontaneously: Warning: Hydrogen leaks from a high pressure cylinder may ignite spontaneously.
  • accidentally: Flares seem good idea, but uneasy about potential hazard of igniting accidentally.
  • easily: The spark will easily ignite a stove or barbecue, paper, dry grass or bark.
  • immediately: However, the impact of an accident in which escaping liquid would instantly revert to gas, possibly igniting immediately, is potentially enormous.
  • once: However, once ignited, the heat from the flame keeps the burning going.
  • finally: When the war finally ignites in its massive proportions, the action is awesome.

Used with why or when

  • when: The diesel however requires no spark plug and will ignite when compressed.

Present participle complement

  • cause: Due to the failure of a pipe a gas cloud developed which was then ignited causing a massive explosion.

Preposition: in

  • air: In this respect you can compare it with alcohol, but not with gasoline, which will explode when ignited in air.

Preposition: by

  • spark: The blast was attributed to an unusual build-up of stomach gases ignited by the sparks.
  • bomb: In all 30 houses were ignited by the incendiary bombs.