conflagrate

An obsolete verb meaning to set on fire or to burn up; to cause to catch fire.

• 🇫🇷Verbe peu courant signifiant mettre le feu à quelque chose, le consumer par les flammes, ou provoquer une combustion.

1. Cause to start burning C2 formal

   To set something on fire or cause it to ignite.

   • The arsonist attempted to conflagrate the abandoned warehouse.
   • A stray spark can conflagrate the dry grass in seconds.
   • The chemical reaction could conflagrate the entire lab if not controlled.

   🇫🇷Mettre le feu à

   Synonymes: igniteinflamekindlelightset ablazetorch

   Antonymes: douseextinguishquenchsmothersnuff

2. Burst into flames C2 formal

   To begin burning intensely; to ignite suddenly.

   • The dry timber conflagrated within minutes of the lightning strike.
   • The fuel tank conflagrated upon impact, sending flames high into the air.
   • The old curtains conflagrated when they touched the candle flame.

   🇫🇷S'enflammer brusquement

   Synonymes: catch firecombustflare upignitekindle

   Antonymes: douseextinguishquenchsmothersnuffstifle

• conflagrated past participle
• conflagrated past simple
• conflagrating present participle
• conflagrates third person singular