combust
verb
com·bust
| \ kəm-ˈbəst
\
\
combusted;
combusting;
combusts
Definition of combust
: burn
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Examples of combust in a Sentence
anthracite, which is naturally hard, combusts more cleanly than bituminous coal
Recent Examples on the Web
Entrusted with a one-run lead in the ninth, Osuna completely combusted. — Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle, "George Springer's homer lifts Astros to 10-inning win over Brewers," 2 Sep. 2019 Munitions that had been stored outside the base combusted after a fire, killing 13 people and knocking out power for many people across the island. — Washington Post, "Demetris Christofias, embattled former president of Cyprus, dies at 72," 21 June 2019 Amid the explosions a transformer combusted into flames, sending fire through its electrical wires to nearby residences and restaurants. — Jon Emont, WSJ, "Bangladesh Fire Points to Safety Shortfalls Despite Progress in Garment Industry," 22 Feb. 2019 The rotation of a NASCAR engine is 3.5 times faster than a standard street car and much more efficient, allowing it to combust more quickly and produce more power. — Christine Helms, The Conversation, "NASCAR may be the fastest way to learn about physics," 8 Aug. 2019 But Dundon’s compost mound spontaneously combusted in February 1990, sending flames and smoke into the air. — Los Angeles Times, "Tim Dundon, ‘Guru of Doo Doo,’ whose compost nourished Altadena’s gardens, dies at 77," 6 Aug. 2019 Will America be able to take it, without combusting? — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, "What if he dies? &c.," 31 July 2019 Investigators believe discarded rags soaked in turpentine may have spontaneously combusted Thursday, causing a house fire in Waconia. — Deanna Weniger, Twin Cities, "Police say discarded rags soaked in turpentine likely caused house fire in Waconia; family dog still missing," 5 July 2019 More than 500 firefighters were deployed to fight a wildfire — likely caused by chicken dung spontaneously combusting — in the Tarragona province of Catalonia. — Washington Post, "Melting autobahns, jaguars in pools, naked men on scooters. Europe faces an early summer ‘inferno’," 27 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'combust.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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