Incinerate Definition, Examples & Usage Guide

Meaning 1：burn to ashes (incinerate)

incinerate 🔊

/ɪnˈsɪn.ə.reɪt/

vt.

to burn something completely, often used for waste, to destroy it totally.

Incinerator furnace burning waste to ashes industrial scene

burn to ashes 🔊

➕

/bɜːrn tuː ˈæʃɪz/

vt.

To destroy something completely by burning it, reducing it to ashes.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'incinerare': in- (into) + cinis (ashes).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine putting something 'in' a 'cinder' (ash) maker to burn it completely.

📖 Example

During our school's environmental field trip, we saw how modern facilities safely incinerate medical waste to prevent pollution. 🔊 During our school's environmental field trip, we saw how modern facilities safely incinerate medical waste to prevent pollution.

🔗 Collocations

incinerate waste – burn waste completely to ashes

incinerate documents – destroy documents by burning

incinerate evidence – burn evidence to destroy it

🔄 Synonyms

burn (v.) – to set on fire and destroy

cremate (v.) – to burn a dead body to ashes

consume (v.) – to destroy by fire

🚫 Antonyms

extinguish (v.) – to put out a fire, preventing destruction

preserve (v.) – to keep something from being burned or harmed

save (v.) – to rescue from burning or destruction

🌱 Derivatives

incineration (n.) – the act or process of burning something completely

incinerator (n.) – a furnace or device for burning waste

incinerable (adj.) – capable of being incinerated

📖 Cultural Story

From Latin 'incinerare', literally 'to turn into ashes'. First used in English in the 15th century for cremation.