nonflammable
|non/flam/ma/ble|
B2
/nɒnˈflæməbl/
resistant to fire
Etymology
Etymology Information
'nonflammable' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'flammable' which comes from Latin 'flammare' meaning 'to set on fire'.
Historical Evolution
'flammable' changed from the Latin word 'flammare' and eventually became the modern English word 'flammable'. The prefix 'non-' was added to indicate the opposite meaning.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'flammable' meant 'capable of being set on fire', and with the prefix 'non-', it evolved to mean 'not capable of being set on fire'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not easily ignited and not capable of burning rapidly.
The laboratory requires nonflammable materials for safety.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45