However, despite the fact that carbon is usually not flammable (technically), it will burn, and, in some cases, it will burn very well, indeed. flammable: 1 adj easily ignited Synonyms: inflammable combustible capable of igniting and burningThe graphic above shows that flammable liquids have a flashpoint below 100 F (37. Both flamable and flammable mean the same thing – capable of catching fire and burning easily. Workshop may have sparks or flames that would ignite that material, causing a fire. According to OSHA, diesel has a flashpoint of over 199. The in- of incombustible is a common prefix meaning "not," but the in- of inflammable is a different prefix. Learn more. If that happened, then the silicon produced would burn in oxygen, but this would only happen at temperatures. Bamboo has a higher flame temperature than wood, so it burns faster and hotter. usage. That will take fire and burn; capable of catching fire; thus, wood and coal are combustible bodies. inflammable: 1 adj easily ignited Synonyms: flammable combustible capable of igniting and burningHowever, this does not mean that all perfumes are flammable. This was to increase safety as people thought inflammable meant not able to burn. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. For instance, oxygen is a non-flammable substance. If the concentration exceeds the higher value (UEL), the air. Reply [deleted]. However, the flammability of alcohol and its dangers depend on its proof and its form. inflammable. The French world itself. Inflammable looks like an opposite of flammable but in fact it has the same meaning. ” That isn’t totally true. Inflammable is a. I also wouldn't question someones usage of "inflammable" to mean "not flammable" in the right context. As a matter of fact, flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same — capable of burning. If something is flammable it means it can be set fire to, such as a piece of wood. Hydrogen is highly flammable and burns at very low temperatures in the presence of a naked flame or spark. Alcohol is just ethanol and water. Alcohol-Based Sauces. It is their vapours combined with air, not the liquid or solids themselves, that ignite and burn. FLAMMABLES. This would also include substances that could ignite on their own when exposed to either water or air, as well as. Out of all the gases in our farts, hydrogen, oxygen and methane are the flammable ones. Combustible liquids have the ability to burn at temperatures that are usually above working temperatures. Danger. ” Using nonflammable is one way to ensure clarity. Yes, diesel is flammable and can catch fire. Copy. In addition, perfumes are flammable because they contain alcohol, which can easily catch fire. Volatile means how quickly it evaporates. Dangerous chemical conditions may occur if it combusts. Inflammable, derived from the verb inflame, is the original word. Improve this answer. Immediately I can think of flammable and inflammable. We can see this in words like: This version of “in-” comes from the. Inflammable is derived from the word inflame. and is also often referred to as theInflammable definition: . . However, the presence of the prefix in– has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means “not flammable” or “noncombustible. There are a few types of rubber with different properties and. The meaning of INFLAMMABLE is flammable. A Category 2 flammable gas contains less than. It can describe materials, speech, or situations, as in 'The building was made of inflammable materials and caught fire quickly. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Examples of flammable materials include wood, kerosene, and alcohol. The two categories of flammable solid are Category 1 and Category 2. While people mix these meanings in everyday language (see below), I find it odd in a text concerned about precision of language. Combustible and incombustible are opposites but flammable and inflammable are synonyms. If a substance is flammable, it means it can burn at normal working temperatures. Flammable: can be made to flame. However, it is defined by OSHA as combustible, rather than flammable. In Middle English the word "infamous" did in fact mean "not well known. com article you will learn the differences between the words Flammable and Inflammable. Something that will NOT. When vapors of a flammable liquid are combined with air in the right ratio, rapid combustion may occur in the presence of ignition. There are a couple of reasons why I felt it was important to look at the questions of whether helium is flammable, explosive, or both. However, some synthetic rubbers, when burnt, can release chemicals such as cyanide and carbon monoxide. ” The prefix –in in inflammable is not, however, the Latin negative prefix –in, which is related to the English –un and. ’In summary, yes – diesel is flammable. What’s even more interesting is that it’s not the liquid that burns, it’s instead the vapors caused by evaporation that ignite. However, the presence of the prefix in- has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means "not flammable" or "noncombustible. flammable: [adjective] capable of being easily ignited and of burning quickly. Some liquids are volatile but NOT flammable. ''. Inflammable and flammable are synonyms and mean “able to burn” even though they look like opposites. It does not act as fuel for the fire to burn, it does however act as the oxidizing part of the fire triangle. ‘not easily set on fire’. Flammables can cause fires in the presence of oxygen and an ignition source. Suppose you build a lab that is perfectly isolated from the outside world, meaning that no impurities or gases. Soul fire is a dimmer turquoise variation of fire that is created when soul sand or soul soil is ignited. These hydrocarbons are highly volatile and have a low flash point,. Both describe things that are capable of burning or easy to ignite, but in all modern varieties of English, flammable is preferred. Flammable = able to be set. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. flammable / inflammable; savoury / unsavoury; sensible / insensible; valuable / invaluable; Word Origin early 19th cent. Cite. Something that is flammable burns easily: 2. " To muddy the waters a little more the word "infamous" changed meaning a while ago. Inflammable and flammable are synonyms and mean ” able to burn ” even though they look like opposites. See full list on dictionary. "Flammable and inflammable both mean capable of burning. Add to Mendeley. llama. . Soul fire deals more damage than normal fire and does not spread. Synonyms for INFLAMMABLE: combustible, explosive, flammable, combustive, ignitable, fiery, ignitible, burnable; Antonyms of INFLAMMABLE: fireproof, incombustible. CryptoDefinitions and Differences: Flammable vs. Why do flammable and inflammable mean the same? Both words mean the same thing, but one of them is bound to confuse most people. Cf. Inflammable. But some people are thrown off by the in-and think inflammable means "not combustible". While flammable liquids have a flash point below 60 degrees. flammable in British English. The flashpoint of diesel is about 140°F (60 Celsius). Burn injuries can lead to permanent scarring, disability and even death. Other paints are water-based and are generally not flammable. The derived word inflammable was so often misunderstood as non flammable due to the negative prefix 'in' that the Fire Protection Association started encouraging people to use the word 'flammable' instead in the 1920's. Soot is the most easily burned form of carbon. You should never leave your perfume can near any heat or open flame as it can explode and cause a. Both words mean “easy to ignite or set fire to. No, normal glass is not flammable and does not readily catch fire. A balloon filled with helium will not explode. It produces “metal fume fever” which has symptoms very similar to the flu. A flammable liquid is a liquid which can be easily ignited in air at ambient temperatures, i. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. So they started saying "flammable" which. "The combustibility ratio of HDPE is 25," Dr Nguyen said. ”. I don't have an etymological explanation, but in this case I think the reason for this is that the "in-" in inflammable is part of the word "inflame". What Does Flammable Solid Mean? A flammable solid is a solid object that is combustible or that may be a contributor to a fire through friction or brief contact with a source of ignition. But, on the other hand, Diesel fuel is graded as a combustible liquid. In reality, flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing—capable of burning. To appropriately tell if Diesel is Flammable or not, both fuel liquids are Fire Hazard, the Gasoline is the typical Flammable liquid. flammable definition: 1. Many flammable substances have to be at a high concentration in order to actually. both flammable and inflammable mean the same thing, isn't that crazy? messire lavoisel Saturday, October 25, 2003, 15:03 GMT "Inflammable" is the original word picked up from French and has always meant "liable to catch fire". If a material won’t burn easily, you could say it is not flammable or non-flammable. Inflammable definition: . because of the types of particles that. Yes, gasoline can catch fire. Flammable is derived from the Latin ‘flamma’, which translates to flame, while. If something is flammable it means it can be set fire to, such as a piece of wood. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. A good way to remember to use flammable over inflammable is that it is a simpler word, as is it’s opposite. A material will not be uniformly flammable, and, in fact, different compositions of the same material. Flammable was created to clear up the grammatical inconsistency, but inflammable didn't go away entirely. Now, you may be saying, “that’s not true, I have seen a video of balloons catching fire. Flammable and inflammable are two words that cause confusion. Below this range, the substance is too lean to burn, and above it is too rich. First, the structural formula and molecular bonding of the hydrogen are such that they are incredibly light reactors and combustible to fire. flammable - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. flammable definition: 1. Should I Use Flammable or Inflammable? First, “flammable” and “inflammable” are NOT OPPOSITES. To avoid confusion, it is recommended that use of the term inflammable be avoided, since the prefix in-here does not mean "not". Potentially, this misunderstanding could be disastrous. It is used to signify that something is cool, awesome, exciting, or more colloquially, “on fire. Flammable is the standard term in the 21st century. why is inflammable and flammable the same word, I mean, come on with that. Bamboo is more flammable than wood. Why do flammable and inflammable mean the same? Both words mean the same thing, but one of them is bound to confuse most people. Cryptononflammable: 1 adj impossible to ignite Synonyms: incombustible , noncombustible not capable of igniting and burningOil-based paints are flammable only when wet, whereas latex, acrylic and water-based paints are not flammable while wet, but become combustible when dry. This is perhaps the most perilously misunderstood word in the English language. Flammable gases mix readily with oxygen in the air outside our buttocks and can catch fire easily, even at low temperatures. The ‘in’ prefix in inflammable is derived from the Latin prefix ‘en’ meaning to cause a person or thing to be in (as in enslave, encourage). Some powdered metals like magnesium and titanium can catch fire when dampened. Flammable and inflammable are both adjectives that mean “easily set on fire. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. If these products are not stored safely, they can easily ignite and start a fire. Some common non-flammable materials include water, sand, earth, stone, and metal. In fact, helium (in its liquid state) is actually used as a coolant for things like rocket ships, MRI machines, and particle accelerators. That would make sense—if inflammable had started out as an English word. “Why does inflammable mean flammable? Shouldn’t it be the opposite? This is why English sucks, and why I don’t have my favorite towel anymore. What does the. Where a flammable object can be set fire to, requiring a source of ignition, an inflammable substance can catch fire all by itself and includes unstable chemicals like some types of compressed gas and explosive hazards. Flammable is the more recent and also the more common of the. If you’re still a little confused, that’s okay. From: Building Materials in Civil Engineering, 2011. An inflammable substance or material burns very easily: 2. In this case, rather than the prefix in- meaning “not,” as it often does, “inflammable” comes. 2. : capable of being set on fire and of burning quickly : flammable. The antonym or word that means the opposite of flammable and inflammable is nonflammable. ] in·flam′ma·bil′i·ty n. There are specific criteria set by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) about flammable or combustible. Yes, normal plastic is highly flammable. Flammable materials are the ones that are ignited or flame immediately when contacting with fire or high temperature in the air and continue to burn or slightly flame when leaving fire, such as plywood, fiberboard, wood and foil. The true answer is yes and no. They include tetrachloroethylene, chloroform, hexafluoroisopropanol and water. " This older version of "infamous" came from Latin "infamosus" which meant "not well known. But if combustible means the opposite of incombustible, then why does “inflammable” mean the same. While the word may imply a non-flammable substance, it is a common misconception. In Middle English the word "infamous" did in fact mean "not well known. non-flammable meaning: 1. That will take fire and burn; capable of catching fire; thus, wood and coal are combustible bodies. Flammable, inflammable, and combustible materials, though related, are not identical. USAGE inflammable and flammable both mean “combustible. Inflammable comes from the Latin word inflammare, while flammable comes from the Latin word flamma. See examples of INFLAMMABLE used in a sentence. What is difference between flammable and inflammable? What Does Inflammable Mean? An inflammable substance is one that is able to be set on fire. Children’s clothing that most commonly catch alight are pajamas and nighties. How can inflammable mean the same as flammable?True the prefix in-can mean not, as in inaccurate. Due to its extreme volatility. Flammable and inflammable do not mean the same thing. In fact, it is not classified as a. Benzene is a highly flammable liquid that burns very easily at relatively low temperatures. But there’s only a 5-20% acetic acid in vinegar along with 80-95% of water. Thus, the presence of hydrogen and oxygen makes plastic explosive and flammable. But oxygen can give rise to fire. ”. In reality, flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing—capable of burning. Flammable and inflammable mean the same thing: they both refer to a material that can easily catch fire and burn. CryptoInflammable looks like an opposite of flammable but in fact it has the same meaning. Inflammable substances are those substances which catch fire very easily and their ignition temperature is very low. But because the first syllable is easily. Although it seems logical that inflammable might mean “not flammable,” the word actually means the opposite, because the in- prefix of inflammable comes from the Latin word meaning “in” or “into. It is a colorless liquid with a pungent taste and is the by-product of fermentation. This was actually a literary amendment per se. Dangerous compounds may occur from heat, including isocyanate vapor. Learn more. However, the terms flammable and combustible are often used interchangeably when, in fact, there are. They are synonyms. [Middle English, liable to inflammation, from Medieval Latin īnflammābilis, from Latin īnflammāre, to inflame; see inflame . This article will cover whether or not diesel is. ”. Combustible, a. The short answer is yes it is highly flammable, but there are a few things to clear up with this answer. . If the draft label has no claim of non-flammability, skip this section. (computing, of a variable) having its associated memory immediately. ”. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Combustible, a. From that noun came the verb flammare “to flame,” that is, “to set on fire. So why are both of these words used when they seem like they would have the opposite definition, but in fact mean the exact same thing? The prefix “in-” does not always serve as being negative. And it is thus logical to assume that if “flammable” means “catches fire easily,” “inflammable” would mean the opposite. These terms are used to describe the conditions in which dangerous liquids are likely to ignite. We get inflammable from the Latin verb inflammare, which combines flammare ("to catch fire") with a Latin prefix in-, which means "to cause to. Updated on April 14, 2019 The adjectives flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing: easily set on fire and capable of burning quickly. easily. What Does Flammable Mean? Flammable refers to a property of liquids, solids or compounds that catch fire and how quickly or easily this happens. In air oxygen is mixed with. Inflammable comes from Latin inflammare ("to inflame"), itself from in - (here meaning "in" or "into") plus flammare ("to flame"). Flammable cabinets are cabinets specifically designed to hold flammable liquids. Improve this answer. Learn more. The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. The ‘in’ prefix in inflammable is derived from the Latin prefix ‘en’ meaning to cause a person or thing to be in (as in enslave, encourage). To explain the subtle difference between these substances: Flammable liquids will ignite and burn easily at normal working temperature, whereas combustible liquids are less volatile substances. Oxygen is not flammable, but it does intensify the combustion process and can cause fire to burn hotter and faster. -Capability of a combustible material to ignite easily, burn intensely or have rapid rate of flame spread. likely to become violent or angry…. Helium is the most perfectly inert of all the elements. Inert quite literally means non-combustible. While the word may imply a non-flammable substance, it is a common misconception. likely to become violent or angry…. But the good thing is that when once dry, it is not flammable. Helium is an inert gas which is non-reactive, allowing for some unique uses from balloons and blimps to other industries with dangerous. To make things even more difficult, different oils have different flashpoints. How do we know when to use which? Fortunately, I have an easy way to remember the difference. 106 gave these definitions for flammable and combustible liquids: A flammable liquid was defined as “Any liquid having a flash point below 100°F (37. The in- has nothing to with the prefix meaning "not", but it's confused often enough that the letters are dropped in hazard symbols. However, the presence of the prefix in– has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means “not flammable” or “noncombustible. New. 1892. It is crazy, impolite means ''not polite'', but imflammable does not mean ''not flammable''. : easily excited or angered. These fumes can make it difficult for you to breathe as well. Something that is non-flammable cannot burn or is very difficult to burn. 1. That may be set on fire; easily enkindled; susceptible of. It means the same as the word flammable. The first two mean the same thing, but one is preferred. " To muddy the waters a little more the word "infamous" changed meaning a while ago. 3 - Flash point ≥ 23°C and ≤ 60°C. It is the English translation of the Latin word inflammare, which is the combination of two Latin words: in, which in this case has the same meaning as our English "in," and flamma, which means "flames," hence, "in flames. ” “Flammable” was coined later from a translation of the latin verb flammare. But you should keep Gorilla Glue away from fire. ” Inflammable is the older by about 200 years. As it has a far higher flashpoint than gasoline, however, diesel requires a far higher temperature and air pressure to ignite, as opposed to gasoline that needs merely a spark. The reason for the prefix in-in invaluable is that it originally meant simply "impossible to value". Inflammable was the original word. It does not undergo chemical. Flammable now has certain technical uses, particularly as a warning on vehicles carrying combustible materials, because of a belief that some might interpret the intensive prefix in- of inflammable as a negative prefix and thus think the word means. In fact, most English words that begin with “in-” follow this pattern. Inflammare, then, also meant “to cause to be on fire. This can lead to some confusion, with some individuals thinking that it means the opposite of flammable; that is, that it cannot be set on fire. The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. This generally makes sense and sounds like good advice, but as I was. The reason two words are required is because they describe different ways in which the material combusts. More Like This Words that look like opposites, but aren’t Words that look like opposites, but aren’tThe words “flammable” and “inflammable” mean the same thing: “easily set on fire”. Water is the product of the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, two elements that support combustion. A substance is considered highly flammable if its ignition point is lower than 90 degrees F. Therefore, since the 1950s, efforts to put forward the use of "flammable" in place of "inflammable" were accepted by linguists, and it is now the accepted standard in American English and. A Category 1 flammable gas contains 85% or less flammable components. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. 1. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. A flammable material is something that can catch fire (ignite) readily at an ambient temperature. So why isn’t inflammable the opposite of flammable?. adj inflammable. The main difference between flammable and combustible liquids is the flashpoint, which refers to the lowest temperature at which the vapors generated by a liquid turn into a flammable gas and can ignite. In this case, rather than the prefix in- meaning “not,” as it often does, “inflammable” comes from the. Mignon Fogarty is the founder of Quick and Dirty Tips and the author of seven books on language, including the New York Times bestseller " Grammar Girl's. it has a flash point at or below nominal threshold temperatures defined by a number of national and international standards organisations. In terms of occupational health and safety, flammable liquids and gases are often of greatest concern, because they tend to be the most volatile and storing them in a fire-safe way is more. Inflammable is by far the older of the two words. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Jul 8, 2018. These bricks are said to be light, impervious to wet and utterly inflammable. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Significance of Flammability Testing. While it may surprise you, another example… Which is an example of a non. Though your candle wax won’t catch fire in normal usage of a candle, that doesn’t mean that it won’t melt. Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow,. Ignition Temperature. When exposed to a temperature of 1000°F (540°C), it will start melting. The word "inflammable" may be erroneously thought to mean "non-flammable". Inflammable refers to something that is easy to set on fire; something flammable. In 2015, OSHA adopted the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of classification and labeling of chemicals. Generally speaking, flammable liquids will ignite (catch on fire) and burn easily at normal working temperatures. Why?. Saw it crop up in a comment - I'm guessing it's to do with its Latin history, but would like further. Argon is an unreactive, noble gas. Note that combustible is not the same as (in)flammable: combustible means that a substance can burn or be burned. The flammable range is bounded by the Lower Flammable Limit (LFL)Upper. "She is easily inflamed" does not equal "She is easily flamed" The more I know. INFLAMMABLE definition: An inflammable material or chemical catches fire and burns easily . 2. It boils at around 40°C (the same as diethyl ether) but is not remotely combustible or flammable. Also, inflammable has another meaning for which flammable is not a synonym. Something that is flammable burns easily: 3. " The prefix in- in inflammable is not, however, the Latin negative. There are many materials that are highly flammable, as long as certain conditions are met. Never store perfume near an open flame or in any place where sparks are flying. com 'Inflammable' has always meant 'tends to catch fire easily'; but, because the prefix 'in-' often means 'not' (as in 'ineffective')and for that reason 'inflammable' might be misinterpreted,. Flammable: A material is considered flammable if it can catch fire and burn when exposed to an ignition source at room temperature. "Invaluable" means "cannot be assigned a value". However, flammable is much more frequent than inflammable and carries less risk of the meaning being confused. Historically, the only word was inflammable, dating to at least the 16th century. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Inflammable ( and flammable) means something can easily be ignited- like gasoline. arder. Inflammable is traditionally used to mean "capable of burning" (compare inflame meaning "set on fire"); the term flammable is a more recent back-formation. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States Department of. . ”Inflammable and flammable both mean “combustible. It is a colorless liquid with a pungent taste and is the by-product of fermentation. Why Inflammable Is Not the Opposite of Flammable What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. S. Why Inflammable Is Not the Opposite of Flammable. So there is no illogicality here. Why does flammable and inflammable mean the same thing? How can someone "draw a blank"? Shouldn't there be a shorter word for "monosyllabic"? Why is the word "abbreviate" so long? Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets? What is another word for "thesaurus"? Visit the previous joke about this topic!Why do flammable & inflammable mean the same thing?. Business, Economics, and Finance. Fire-extinguishing media should be carbon dioxide, dry powder, or foam. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. USAGE Flammable and inflammable are interchangeable when used of the properties of materials. All Free. And what is the opposite?. At the time I heard that flammable was a made-up word, and the real word was. It’s an oxidizing agent, which means that it helps other things burn. "Inflammable definition: . The thick, dark smoke produced by burning rubber is bad enough in itself, exposing people in the vicinity to the serious effects of smoke inhalation. And it is thus logical to assume that if “flammable” means “catches fire easily,” “inflammable” would mean the opposite. The boiling point of a combustible liquid is always over 100 degrees Fahrenheit while a flammable liquid has a boiling point under 100 degrees. Flammable Substances Flammable substances are those gases, liquids and solids that will ignite and continue to burn in air if exposed to a source of ignition. In reality, flammable and inflammable mean exactly the. 3°C). You can tell both words pertain to flames, but it's difficult to know whether they mean the same thing or are opposites. Usage Note: Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. The word "flammable" is newer than inflammable and does not exist, for instance, in Indian English. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Flammable liquids have a lower flashpoint than combustible liquids. Despite being made from alcohol, vinegar is not flammable. This means that, in practice, it will catch fire as soon as it is exposed to a naked flame or a spark without needing to be heated prior to this. The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. Flammable and combustible liquids are liquids that can burn. The word "inflammable" came from Latin inflammāre = "to set fire to," where the prefix "in-" means "in" as in "indoctrinate", rather than "not" as in "invisible" and "ineligible". While almost every material on earth will burn if it gets hot enough, many objects, like most types of metal, can't be made hot enough by everyday means of ignition. The adjectives flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing: easily set on fire and capable of burning quickly. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. And that most of these fires will happen long after the battery has been disposed of. Flammable paints include alkyd, lacquer, and enamel paints that are solvent- or oil-based. However, inflammable means that a substance is capabble of bursting into flames without the need for any ignition. fickle. Flammable and combustible materials achieve explosive tendencies depending on two factors: the concentration of vapors or particles suspended in air as well as the presence of an ignition source, whether that be heat or a spark. Inflammable, a. When these two elements combine, they release a great deal of energy in the form of heat and light. Suppose you build a lab that is perfectly isolated from the outside world, meaning that no impurities or gases can enter it. Unstable liquid chemicals and certain types of fuel fall into this category. It was borrowed from the Latin ‘inflammare’ meaning ‘to set on fire’ or ‘causing to catch fire’. While almost every material on earth will burn if it gets hot enough, many objects, like most types of metal, can't be made hot enough by everyday means of ignition. (of a person) quick to become angry or violent. Oxygen is not flammable, but it does intensify the combustion process and can cause fire to burn hotter and faster. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. “non-flammable (gas, liquid, etc. It means capable of catching fire, combustible.