pyrophoric
/ˌpaɪ.ɹəʊˈfɔː.ɹɪk/
pyrophoric means spontaneously igniting in air, especially when in a finely divided state. It carries an Arena rating of 1467, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, pyrophoric ranks #363 of 17,149 for Most Exacting Words, #627 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words, #643 of 17,142 for Most Ingenious Words, #1,436 of 17,124 for Most Sublime Words.
pyrophoric is pronounced /ˌpaɪ.ɹəʊˈfɔː.ɹɪk/.
Why “pyrophoric” is a great word
Capable of igniting spontaneously upon exposure to air. From Ancient Greek πυροφόρος (purophóros, "fire-bearing"), from πῦρ (pyr, "fire") + φέρω (phérō, "to bear, carry") + the English suffix -ic, first attested in the late 18th century. Unlike "flammable," which merely invites a spark, or "combustible," which awaits sufficient heat, "pyrophoric" describes a material that carries its own betrayal within, a patient chemical instability that requires only the common touch of the atmosphere to consummate. It is the sudden bloom of flame from a freshly sliced chunk of alkali metal, the ghostly glow of white phosphorus in a darkened jar, or the terrible, silent ignition of iron shavings scattered from a machining lathe—a quiet testament to the latent violence slumbering in the most inert-seeming world.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek πυροφόρος (purophóros, “fire-bearing”) + -ic. Analyzable as pyro- + -phore + -ic.
adj
- Spontaneously igniting in air, especially when in a finely divided state.
- Producing sparks, especially by friction.
- Able to oxidize with exposure to atmospheric oxygen at normal temperatures.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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