flammable

Thân thiện

This chemical is highly flammable and must be stored away from heat.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Easily ignited; capable of burning quickly and easily: Describes a material or substance that can catch fire readily when exposed to a source of ignition, such as a spark, flame, or heat.

Usage

• The word "flammable" is used as a standard warning label on containers of hazardous materials. It is the preferred term in formal and technical contexts (e.g., safety data sheets, industrial labeling) to indicate fire risk.
• It is crucial to store flammable liquids away from heat sources.
• Note: "Flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing (easily set on fire). "Flammable" is now more common to avoid potential confusion with the prefix "in-," which can sometimes mean "not."

Examples

• Adjective:
  • Gasoline is highly flammable and should be handled with extreme caution.
  • The warehouse contained boxes of flammable materials, so smoking was strictly prohibited.
  • Always check if a cleaning product is flammable before using it near an open flame.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Regulatory Context: In safety protocols, materials are often classified by their flash point, with "flammable" having a lower flash point than "combustible."
  • According to OSHA regulations, a liquid with a flash point below 100°F is considered flammable.

Variants and Related Words

• Inflammable (adj): (Archaic or less common) Having the same meaning as "flammable" (easily set on fire). Warning: Due to its prefix, it can be misunderstood to mean "not flammable," so "flammable" is preferred for clarity.
• Nonflammable (adj): Not easily ignited; resistant to catching fire.
  • The lab coat was made from a nonflammable fabric.
• Flammability (n): The quality of being flammable.
  • The flammability of the substance was tested in a controlled environment.

Synonyms

• Combustible: Capable of catching fire and burning. (Note: Often used for solids or materials that burn less readily than those labeled "flammable.")
• Ignitable: Capable of being ignited.

Antonyms

• Nonflammable: Not easily set on fire.
• Fireproof: Designed to resist burning.
• Incombustible: Not capable of being burned.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• (To be) a flammable situation: A figurative use describing a tense circumstance that could easily escalate into conflict or trouble.
  • The political disagreement created a flammable situation in the negotiations.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. easily ignited

Từ đồng nghĩa

• inflammable