Meanings
nounignition (countable and uncountable, plural ignitions)
plural ignitions
- countableuncountableThe initiation of combustion.
- countableuncountableautomotiveA system for activating combustion in a combustion engine.
- countableuncountableautomotiveReceptacle for a key used to start the engine in a vehicle.
Put the key in the ignition and turn it right.
- countableuncountablenatural sciencesThe phenomenon of a thermonuclear fusion reaction becoming self-sustaining and no longer requiring external heating.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe act of igniting.
Similar
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe mechanism that ignites the fuel in an internal-combustion engine
Similar
ignition system
Broader
nounthe act of setting something on fire
Broader
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁engʷ-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁n̥gʷnís
- Proto-Italic*engʷnis
- Latinignis
- Latinignio
- Latinignītiō
- Englishignition
Learned borrowing from Latin ignītiō. By surface analysis, ignite + -ion.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian пламване, възпламеняване
- пламване (plamvane)the act of igniting
- възпламеняване (văzplamenjavane)the act of igniting
- запалване (zapalvane)initiation of combustion
- запалване (zapalvane)system for activating combustion in an engine
Catalan ignició
- ignicióthe act of igniting
Czech vzplanutí, vznícení
- vzplanutíthe act of igniting
- vzníceníthe act of igniting
- vzplanutíinitiation of combustion
- zapalovánísystem for activating combustion in an engine
Finnish sytyttäminen, sytytys
- sytyttäminenthe act of igniting
- sytytysthe act of igniting
- sytyttämineninitiation of combustion
- syttymineninitiation of combustion
- sytytyssystem for activating combustion in an engine
French ignition, allumage
- ignitionthe act of igniting
- allumagesystem for activating combustion in an engine
German Zündung, Zündung
- Zündungthe act of igniting
- Zündunginitiation of combustion
- Zündungsystem for activating combustion in an engine
- Zündungkey receptacle for starting a vehicle
Greek ανάφλεξη, ανάφλεξη
- ανάφλεξη (anáflexi)the act of igniting
- ανάφλεξη (anáflexi)initiation of combustion
- ανάφλεξη (anáflexi)system for activating combustion in an engine
Hungarian gyújtás, gyújtás
- gyújtásinitiation of combustion
- gyújtássystem for activating combustion in an engine
Irish adhaint
- adhaintthe act of igniting
Italian ignizione, accensione
- ignizionethe act of igniting
- accensionethe act of igniting
- ignizioneinitiation of combustion
- accensioneinitiation of combustion
- blocchettokey receptacle for starting a vehicle
Japanese 点火, 発火
- 点火 (tenka)the act of igniting
- 発火 (hakka)the act of igniting
- 点火装置 (tenka sōchi)system for activating combustion in an engine
Latin ignitio, ignitio
- ignitiothe act of igniting
- ignitioinitiation of combustion
Malay penyalaan
- penyalaanthe act of igniting
Norwegian Bokmål tenning, tenning
- tenningthe act of igniting
- tenninginitiation of combustion
- tenningsystem for activating combustion in an engine
Polish zapłonięcie, zapłon
- zapłonięciethe act of igniting
- zapłoninitiation of combustion
- zapłonsystem for activating combustion in an engine
- stacyjkakey receptacle for starting a vehicle
Portuguese ignição, ignição
- igniçãothe act of igniting
- igniçãoinitiation of combustion
- partidasystem for activating combustion in an engine
- igniçãosystem for activating combustion in an engine
Romanian contact
- contactkey receptacle for starting a vehicle
Russian зажига́ние, зажига́ние
- зажига́ние (zažigánije)the act of igniting
- зажига́ние (zažigánije)system for activating combustion in an engine
Scottish Gaelic adhnaidh
- adhnaidhsystem for activating combustion in an engine
Spanish ignición, encendido
- igniciónthe act of igniting
- encendidoinitiation of combustion
- encendidosystem for activating combustion in an engine
Tagalog duop
- duopinitiation of combustion
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with ignition
editionpositioncommissionconditionadditionmissionpermissionnutritiontransmissionsubmissiontransitionacquisitionadmissionexhibitiontraditiontuitionemissionpartitionpropositionmusicianexpeditionprohibitioninhibitionpolitician
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
ignition. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ignition
MLA
“ignition.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ignition. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ignition,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ignition.
Source: ignition on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.