ignite
/ig'nait/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To cause to start burning; to set on fire: To initiate combustion in a substance.
- To arouse or excite strong feelings or passions: To trigger intense emotions or reactions.
Verb (intransitive):
- To begin to burn; to catch fire: To start burning, often suddenly or with intensity.
Usage Examples
Verb (transitive):
- The spark ignited the dry leaves. (The spark caused the dry leaves to start burning.)
- The leader's powerful speech ignited a sense of hope in the people. (The speech aroused a strong feeling of hope.)
- Please do not ignite fireworks near the building. (Please do not cause fireworks to start burning near the building.)
Verb (intransitive):
- The gas leak caused the fumes to ignite. (The gas leak caused the fumes to catch fire.)
- The engine ignited with a loud roar. (The engine started burning fuel and began operating.)
Advanced Usage
- "to ignite a debate/controversy": to cause a debate or controversy to begin or become intense.
- The new policy proposal ignited a fierce debate in parliament.
- "to ignite interest/passion": to spark or stimulate strong interest or passion.
- The documentary ignited her passion for marine biology.
Variants and Related Words
- Ignition (n): The action of setting something on fire or starting to burn; the mechanism that starts an engine.
- Turn the key to start the ignition.
- Ignitable/Ignitible (adj): Capable of being set on fire.
- Gasoline is highly ignitable.
- Reignite (v): To ignite or stimulate again.
- The meeting served to reignite their enthusiasm for the project.
Synonyms
- Kindle: To start a fire; to arouse or inspire (an emotion).
- Inflame: To provoke or intensify strong feelings, often negative ones like anger.
- Combust: To catch fire or begin to burn (more technical).
- Spark: To trigger or cause something to start, especially suddenly.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "Ignite" itself is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically contained in the single word.)
Related Idioms
- "To add fuel to the fire": This idiom is related in meaning to making an intense situation (like anger or conflict) worse, similar to how "ignite" can mean to arouse strong passions.
- His criticism only added fuel to the fire of their argument.
Verb
- arouse or excite feelings and passions
- The ostentatious way of living of the rich ignites the hatred of the poor
- The refugees' fate stirred up compassion around the world
- Wake old feelings of hatred
- start to burn or burst into flames
- Marsh gases ignited suddenly
- The oily rags combusted spontaneously
- cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat
- Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter
- Light a cigarette