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flammable

flammable

40 2.8
Able to catch fire and burn quickly
  • adjective
  • /ˈflæməbl/
: inflamable
  • Charcoal is likely to be chosen as a substitute because it is light, flammable, and easy to store.
  • highly flammable
  • a flammable material
  • flammable substances

It was regulations about flammable pyjamas.

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Examples

  • If there is a loss of vacuum, a highly flammable oil and air fog can form.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The man says this cavern is full of highly flammable methane gas.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Sugar is flammable and may result in smoke and fire.

  • So hydrogen is a flammable gas.

  • And, of course, in the garage there are other highly flammable materials we take for granted.

    Academic text (2007)
  • It's colorless, flammable, and very poisonous.

  • Hydrocarbons are excellent refrigerants, but they are also flammable and explosive.

    Academic text (1998)
  • It knew it needed to take steps, including clearing the highly flammable grasses from around the electric wires.

  • It's important to keep flammable items, like gasoline, in a safe storage container.

  • You should always check for flammable materials before starting a fire.

Synonyms

combustible
vsflammable
17 5.1

Easily catches fire and burns

is the same basic idea but highlighted as a warning
incendiary
vsflammable
10 8.3

Able to start fires and burn very quickly

describes simple ease of ignition rather than deliberate fire causing
highly combustible
vsflammable
3 4.3

Easily catches fire and burns quickly

expresses the same extreme ease of ignition rather than normal risk
inflammable
vsflammable
2 5.2

Easily set on fire and burns quickly

is the more common modern term for the same property
burnable
vsflammable
1 2.3

Able to catch fire and be destroyed by fire

adds that burning happens quickly, not just eventual combustion
combustive
vsflammable
  • Specialized
1 8.2

Able to make something start burning or burn more easily

means ordinary easy ignition rather than actively encouraging flames
highly inflammable
vsflammable
1 4.4

Easily catches fire and burns very quickly

describes the same risk but with stronger immediacy
ignitable
vsflammable
  • Specialized
1 5.6

Able to catch fire and burn easily

focuses on the same ability but in plain everyday wording
ignitible
vsflammable
  • Specialized
8.0

Able to catch fire and burn

emphasizes quick burning as a key everyday safety concern
fireable
vsflammable
5.0

Can burn easily

stresses rapid ignition as the typical safety meaning

Antonyms

10 4.0

Made so it does not burn in a fire

1 4.1

Does not catch fire or burn easily

Compounds

flammable liquid
  • Specialized
4 3.4

A liquid that catches fire easily and burns quickly

How Flammable

combustible
17 5.1
flammable
40 2.8
nonflammable
1 4.1

Surface Forms

flammable positive

Morphology

flammable = flame (transparent) = flame + flamm + able

The meaning is directly derived from 'flame' + the productive adjectival suffix '-able', so learners can infer 'capable of burning'.

Etymology

The word flammable comes from the Latin root flamma, which means 'flame'. With the ending -able meaning 'able to', flammable literally means 'able to catch fire', which is why we use it for things that burn easily.