Meaning of ignite in English

Table of contents

Verb
ignite
Etymology
mid 17th century (in the sense ‘make intensely hot’): from Latin ignire‘set on fire’, from ignis‘fire’
Definitions
1. cause to start burning
Examples
- « subject to fire or great heat »
- « Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter »
- « Light a cigarette »
Antonyms
Derived terms
2. start to burn or burst into flames
Examples
- « Marsh gases ignited suddenly »
- « The oily rags combusted spontaneously »
Derived terms
3. arouse or excite feelings and passions
Examples
- « 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 »
Derived terms

Famous quotes

« If in my youth I had realized that the sustaining splendour of beauty of with which I was in love would one day flood back into my heart, there to ignite a flame that would torture me without end, how gladly would I have put out the light in my eyes. »
Michelangelo
« I saw as a teacher how, if you take that spark of learning that those children have, and you ignite it, you can take a child from any background to a lifetime of creativity and accomplishment. »
Paul Wellstone
« No one has the right to ignite a war and lead an occupation and armies to conquer people, invading them and make them suffer all kinds of torture, murder, expulsion, displacement, bombing and terrorism by different lethal prohibited weapons and then come and speak as the savior of the people or a defender of their rights. »
Muqtada al Sadr
« A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning. »
Brad Henry
« Inspiring scenes of people taking the future of their countries into their own hands will ignite greater demands for good governance and political reform elsewhere in the world, including in Asia and in Africa. »
William Hague