pyrophoric
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Related to pyrophoric: Pyrophoric iron, Organic peroxide
py·ro·phor·ic
(pī′rə-fôr′ĭk)adj.
1. Spontaneously igniting in air.
2. Producing sparks by friction.
[From pyrophorus, substance that ignites spontaneously : from Greek purophoros, fire-bearing : puro-, pyro- + -phoros, -phorous.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
pyrophoric
(ˌpaɪrəʊˈfɒrɪk) orpyrophorous
adj
1. (Chemistry) (of a chemical) igniting spontaneously on contact with air
2. (General Physics) (of an alloy) producing sparks when struck or scraped: lighter flints are made of pyrophoric alloy.
[C19: from New Latin pyrophorus, from Greek purophoros fire-bearing, from pur fire + pherein to bear]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
py•ro•phor•ic
(ˌpaɪ rəˈfɔr ɪk, -ˈfɒr-)adj.
capable of igniting spontaneously in air.
[1830–40; < Greek pyrophór(os) fire-bearing]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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