flashover
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.90 in modern English
18
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
1
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The near simultaneous ignition of all combustible material in an enclosed area.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "The blaze turned into what Swiss officials called an embrasement généralisé, a term for a fire that releases combustible gases that can ignite violently, triggering what English-speaking firefighters call a flashover or backdraft."
- "The overhead line was energised at 25,000 volts and the height of the contact wire was reduced to 11 in. above the chimney, then to 5 and finally to 2 in.; at this last, short distance the flashover occurred, but all the men were perfectly safe because the current went direct to earth through the locomotive."
Etymology
Deverbal from flash over.