ignites

Ignites is the third-person singular present tense of the verb ignite. It means to set something on fire or to cause it to begin burning, and it can also be used metaphorically to mean to spark or stimulate interest, action, or excitement. The term is commonly used in both everyday language and technical contexts.

Etymology: Ignite derives from fire-related roots in Latin and Germanic languages, passing into English through Old French and Middle English. It belongs to a family of terms connected with fire and combustion, such as ignition, ignitable, and incendiary.

Usage: In literal usage, ignite is transitive and requires a direct object: a spark can ignite a flame, and a match can ignite tinder. Examples include engines where a spark plug ignites the air–fuel mixture, or a chemical mixture that is ignited by heat. In metaphorical usage, ignite can describe arousing interest, passion, or debate, as in a speech that ignites enthusiasm or a rumor that ignites controversy.

In technical and safety contexts, ignition refers to the process of starting combustion and the devices that enable it, such as igniters, spark plugs, or ignition systems in engines and furnaces. Terms related to ignite, such as ignitable and ignition timing, are common in engineering, safety standards, and industrial settings.

See also: ignition, ignitable, kindle, combustion, incendiary.