spontaneous combustion

views updated May 23 2018

spon·ta·ne·ous com·bus·tion • n. the ignition of organic matter (e.g., hay or coal) without apparent cause, typically through heat generated internally by rapid oxidation.

Spontaneous Combustion

views updated May 17 2018

Spontaneous Combustion ★★ 1989 (R)

A grisly horror film detailing the travails of a hapless guy who has the power to inflict the title phenomenon on other people. 97m/C VHS, DVD . Brad Dourif, Jon Cypher, Melinda Dillon, Cynthia Bain, William Prince, Dey Young, Dick Butkus, John Landis, Dale Dye; D: Tobe Hooper; W: Tobe Hooper, Howard Goldberg; C: Levie Isaacks; M: Graeme Revell.

spontaneous combustion

views updated May 21 2018

spontaneous combustion Outbreak of fire without external application of heat. Phosphorous, for example, ignites spontaneously in air. When combustible material, such as damp hay, paper or rags, is slowly oxidized by bacteria or air, the temperature may rise to the ignition point.