ignition Hear it!

ignition definition

ig·ni·tion (ig nis̸h′ən)

noun

  1. a setting on fire or catching on fire
  2. the means by which a thing is ignited
  3. in an internal-combustion engine,
    1. the igniting of the explosive mixture in the cylinder
    2. the device or system for doing this; esp. the key-operated switch
  4. Chem. the heating of a compound or mixture to the point of complete combustion, complete chemical change, or complete removal of volatile material

Etymology: ModL (Paracelsus) ignitio < L ignitus: see ignite

adjective

designating certain parts of an engine causing ignition

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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