Conflagration
A large, destructive fire that destroys a great deal of property and often spreads rapidly.
nounConflagration
A large, destructive fire that destroys a great deal of property and often spreads rapidly.
nounImagine This
Imagine a dry, windy day in a town where sparks leap from roof to roof. Flames race across the skyline, consuming houses and trees as firefighters sprint toward the blaze.
Sounds Like
kon-fluh-GRAY-shuhn
Looks Like
Looks like conflagrate, the verb form meaning to set on fire; shares the root flagra- 'to burn'.
Remember This
Conflagration emphasizes breadth and scale—a fire that consumes a wide area. Etymology traces to Latin conflagrare 'to burn up' (con- 'together' + flagrare 'to burn').
Other Forms
Connect With
blaze, inferno, firestorm, wildfire, destruction
Note
Use for very large fires that spread across areas or communities. Do not use for small fires; distinguish from conflagrate (the verb to set on fire).
Study Deeper
- The conflagration swept through the village, leaving few buildings standing.
- Firefighters battled the conflagration for hours before finally containing it.
From Latin conflagrare 'to burn up', formed from con- 'together' + flagrare 'to burn'.
Mnemonic: CON + FLAG + RATION. Picture many flames with small flags gathered together marching into town—the flames come together to form a massive blaze.
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Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).