self-combustion

noun

1. the act or process of burning.
2. Chemistry.
   1. rapid oxidation accompanied by heat and, usually, light.
   2. chemical combination attended by production of heat and light.
   3. slow oxidation not accompanied by high temperature and light.
3. violent excitement; tumult.

noun

1. the process of burning
2. any process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to produce a significant rise in temperature and the emission of light
3. a chemical process in which two compounds, such as sodium and chlorine, react together to produce heat and light
4. a process in which a compound reacts slowly with oxygen to produce little heat and no light

n.early 15c., from Old French combustion (13c.), from Latin combustionem (nominative combustio) “a burning,” noun of action from past participle stem of Latin comburere “to burn up, consume,” from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + *burere, faulty separation of amburere “to burn around,” actually ambi-urere, from urere “to burn, singe,” from PIE root *eus- “to burn” (see ember). n.

1. The process of burning.
2. A chemical change, especially oxidation, accompanied by the production of heat and light.

1. The process of burning.
2. A chemical change, especially through the rapid combination of a substance with oxygen, producing heat and, usually, light. See also spontaneous combustion.

Burning; a chemical reaction that involves the rapid combination of a fuel with oxygen. (See oxidation and spontaneous combustion.)