conflagrate

English

Etymology

First attested in 1657; borrowed from Latin cōnflāgrātus, perfect passive participial of cōnflāgrō (“to be consumed by fire; (rare) to set aflame”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkänfləˌɡrāt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Verb

conflagrate (third-person singular simple present conflagrates, present participle conflagrating, simple past and past participle conflagrated)

1. (intransitive) To catch fire. [17th century to the present]

   Synonyms: go up in flames; see also Thesaurus:combust

2. (transitive) To set fire to something. [17th century to the present]

   Synonyms: ignite, kindle; see also Thesaurus:kindle

Derived terms

• conflagratory

Related terms

• conflagration

Latin

Verb

cōnflagrāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of cōnflagrō