Elements of the Universe: Ign, Igni ("Fire")

The ancients believed that the universe was composed of five basic elements: earth, air, fire, water, and sky. The Greek and Latin words for these elements still show up in our language today. Learn these words that come from the Latin word ignis, meaning "fire."

Here are links to our complete set of Elements of the Universe lists: Cosm, Cosmo ("Universe") / Terr, Terra ("Earth") / Geo ("Earth") / Hydr, Hydro ("Water") / Aqua ("Water") / Ign, Igni ("Fire") / Pyr, Pyro ("Fire") / Aer, Aero ("Air") / Aether ("Sky") / Aster, Astro ("Star") / Sol ("Sun")
10 words 4773 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. ignite
    start to burn or burst into flames
    In the chaos, I let my heat-lantern get too close to one of the hanging dresses and it ignites. The Belles
  2. reignite
    ignite anew, as of something burning
    The settlement, which amounts to around one quarter of the company's yearly profit, will reignite criticism from those who say this amounts to little more than a slap on the wrist. BBC (Jul 12, 2019)
    This word can mean "to cause to burn again" in a literal sense, but it can also be used figuratively, as in the example sentence.
  3. igniter
    a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires
    All of that happens in the bag’s igniter, which vaporizes pellet-shaped chemical propellants. BusinessWeek (Oct 30, 2014)
  4. ignitor
    a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires
    Gomez is the Brewers’ high-energy ignitor, able to hit for power and has speed. Washington Times (Jun 24, 2015)
    Ignitor and igniter are synonymous, although igniter is much more common in modern English.
  5. ignitable
    capable of burning
    Hence the phenomena of ignitable, methane-rich water coming out of home taps or rural streams. New York Times (Dec 22, 2014)
  6. ignition
    the process of initiating combustion or catching fire
    Investigators seized a melted appliance for additional examination as a possible ignition source. Seattle Times (Aug 20, 2019)
  7. ignition key
    a key that operates the ignition switch of an automotive engine
    When you turn the ignition key in your car, a warning light on the dashboard informs you when the oil is low or when your tires need to be inflated. Washington Post (Aug 17, 2015)
  8. ignition coil
    an induction coil that converts current from a battery into the high-voltage current required by spark plugs
    In adjusting the vibrator of an ignition coil, the latter should not require over one-half ampere of current. Hawkins, Nehemiah
    Also called "spark coil," an ignition coil produces a spark across two coils of insulated copper wire when the direct current from the battery is deliberately interrupted.
  9. igneous
    produced by the action of fire or intense heat
    You may recall from your high school geology class that natural stone falls into one of three basic geological classifications: metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous. Seattle Times (May 15, 2017)
    Igneous rocks are formed when magma or lava cools and solidifies.
  10. ignis fatuus
    an illusion that misleads
    After all, am I the victim of an illusion—following but an ignis fatuus kindled by my own vanity? Reid, Mayne
    ignis; fatuus ("foolish, silly")
    An ignis fatuus is literally "a pale light sometimes seen at night over marshy ground."
Created on Fri Aug 14 11:48:40 EDT 2015 (updated Mon Aug 26 14:26:58 EDT 2019)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.