What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. The true answer is yes and no. It’s in your body right now, in fact. likely to become violent or angry…. Inflammable and inflammatory can be confused with one another, but they also offer their own source of confusion with the prefix in-. There are two categories of flammable aerosols. A material will not be uniformly flammable, and, in fact, different compositions of the same material. If you’re still a little confused, that’s okay. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. inflammable mix a highly. There is no difference in meaning between flammable and inflammable. FLAMMABLES. Why Inflammable Is Not the Opposite of Flammable What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. These terms are used to describe the conditions in which dangerous liquids are likely to ignite. Inflammable and flammable are synonyms and mean “able to burn” even though they look like opposites. Mignon Fogarty is the founder of Quick and Dirty Tips and the author of seven books on language, including the New York Times bestseller " Grammar Girl's. 1. To appropriately tell if Diesel is Flammable or not, both fuel liquids are Fire Hazard, the Gasoline is the typical Flammable liquid. Tack on the –able suffix and you get flammable. Why do flammable and inflammable mean the same? Both words mean the same thing, but one of them is bound to confuse most people. Both describe things that are capable of burning or easy to ignite, but in all modern varieties of English, flammable is preferred. Something that will NOT. Inflammable originally meant "can get inflamed" which means it can become on fire. See Usage Note at flammable. INFLAMMABLE definition: An inflammable material or chemical catches fire and burns easily . Flammable and inflammable cause a lot of confusion. . ” Because more people consider. Learn more. Burn injuries can lead to permanent scarring, disability and even death. See examples of NONFLAMMABLE used in a sentence. inflammable: 1 adj easily ignited Synonyms: flammable combustible capable of igniting and burningHowever, this does not mean that all perfumes are flammable. This is perhaps the most perilously misunderstood word in the English language. Ethanol is produced by fermenting fruits, vegetables, or grains. But if combustible means the opposite of incombustible, then why does “inflammable” mean the same. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Sometimes people will say, “Flammable means it will catch fire and combustible means it will explode when ignited. 106 gave these definitions for flammable and combustible liquids: A flammable liquid was defined as “Any liquid having a flash point below 100°F (37. Also, some pyrophoric metallic elements like plutonium can ignite consistently in the air. Yes, gasoline can catch fire. How do we know when to use which? Fortunately, I have an easy way to remember the difference. Cryptononflammable: 1 adj impossible to ignite Synonyms: incombustible , noncombustible not capable of igniting and burningOil-based paints are flammable only when wet, whereas latex, acrylic and water-based paints are not flammable while wet, but become combustible when dry. Flammable is the more recent and also the more common of the. : from Latin flammare, from flamma ‘a flame’. Yes, it is flammable, if we are talking about polyester resin and uncured epoxy resin. Characteristics of highly flammable plants include: Dry and dead leaves or twigs. In this case, rather than the prefix in- meaning “not,” as it often does, “inflammable” comes. That is because the prefix in inflammable is in1-, meaning "in; into; '' it is not the prefix in2-, meaning "not. The word "flammable" is newer than inflammable and does not exist, for instance, in Indian English. . 4 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius). inflammable meaning: 1. The substances that do not catch fire are called non-flammable substances. Why it’s risky : It’s not uncommon for marsala, sherry and other alcohol-based sauces to flare up. Combustible Liquid Definition. ''. inflammable. As you saw in the videos, it only takes a second for a spark or flame to ignite perfume. Learn more. Both flammable and inflammable mean easily set on fire. What do you mean by flammable gas? A flammable gas is a gas that burns in the presence of an oxidant when provided with a source of ignition. Both of these substances are potentially deadly when inhaled in high enough. Flammable range is the proportion of vapor to air mixture that is ignitable and is expressed in. No. 23. That would make sense—if inflammable had started out as an English word. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. In the early 20th century, firefighters worried that people might. adj inflammable. (ˈflæməbəl ) adjective. Potentially, this misunderstanding could be disastrous. "No, your refreshing glass of water won't spontaneously combust. Flammable and inflammable are two words that cause confusion. So you can say that rubber is not flammable. NPFA Flammable Liquids Class. Oxygen is not flammable, but it does intensify the combustion process and can cause fire to burn hotter and faster. The flashpoint of benzene is 11. easily. Why? The in- of incombustible is a common prefix meaning "not," but the in- of inflammable is a different prefix. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. The higher proportion of water doesn’t let vinegar catch on fire. Oxidizing gas means any gas which may,. Cite. Flammable liquid classes are designated by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and there are six classes total based on a liquid’s closed-cup flash point and boiling point: Class IA, Class IB, Class IC, Class II, Class IIIA, and Class IIIB. At the time I heard that flammable was a made-up word, and the real word was. It is not combustible, meaning it will not burn when exposed to a flame. A flammable gas is a gas that burns in the presence of an oxidant when provided with a source of ignition. and is also often referred to as theInflammable definition: . incendiary — used or adapted for setting. What does Unflammable mean?: not flammable : incapable of combustion —not used technically. However, if the proposed draft label has such a claim, the reviewer must check to see that the terms “Extremely Flammable” or “Flammable” do not appear in the Physical or Chemical Hazards section of the proposed label. flammable now has certain technical uses, particularly as a warning on vehicles carrying combustible materials, because of a belief that some might interpret the intensive prefix in-of inflammable as a negative prefix and thus think the word means. What does this fire symbol represent? The fire emoji is a flame that is mostly yellow with a little red on the top. flammable; easily inflamed, excited, or angered : irascible… See the full definition. innumerable, "impossible to count (because the number is infinite)", immense, "unmeasured (because. The flashpoint of diesel is about 140°F (60 Celsius). Inflammable definition: Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; flammable. Yes, normal plastic is highly flammable. Most flammable liquids are highly volatile chemicals which emit hazardous vapours. It is the English translation of the Latin word inflammare, which is the combination of two Latin words: in, which in this case has the same meaning as our English "in," and flamma, which means "flames," hence, "in flames. e. why does flammable and inflammable have the same meaning? 5 comments. Non-flammable materials will not burn, while inflammable materials will catch fire and burn readily. ] | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examplesThe short answer, yes propane is flammable. When we look at a word like inflammable, we instinctively feel it must be the. , hot), or refer to other various metaphorical fires. You should see oxygen rather as the substance that supports the combustion process rather than being a catalyst for it. Some people mistake the words as having opposite meanings. At least "incombustible" definitely does mean the opposite of "combustible". Inflammable. It does not act as fuel for the fire to burn, it does however act as the oxidizing part of the fire triangle. Flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing: a substance burns easily or readily catches fire. But the prefix “in-” can also mean “on” or “into. 3. The reason is that the in of. A combustible liquid was defined as “Any liquid with a flashpoint at or above 100°F (37. However, the presence of the prefix in- has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means "not flammable" or "noncombustible. The prefix ‘in’ in this Latin word did not mean ‘not’, but ‘to cause to’. The word "inflammable" may be erroneously thought to mean "non-flammable". com. In fact, they say that you have much better odds of being struck by lightning than being caught in a. in·flam·ma·ble. ' 'Inflammable' has synonyms like 'combustible' and 'ignitable,' and. If the draft label has no claim of non-flammability, skip this section. Also, "invaluable" doesn't mean quite the same thing as "valuable". It is important to note that “inflammable” does not mean “not flammable” as one might assume due to the prefix “in-. Alcohol is just ethanol and water. The word "inflammable" came from Latin inflammāre = "to set fire to," where the prefix "in-" means "in" as in "indoctrinate", rather than "not" as in "invisible" and "ineligible". Let’s find out. Archived. Fire resistant These four terms Fire retardant mean the textile Flame resistant will be slow to Flame retardant ignite, may burn more slowly, may self-extinguish when. More Like This Words that look like opposites, but aren’t Words that look like opposites, but aren’tThe flammability range provides a tool for mitigating the dangers posed by flammable vapors and the various substances that emit them, including many chemicals (such as gasoline) commonly used in occupational settings. Rubber is not highly flammable in that it has a high ignition temperature of 500 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit (260 to 316 Celsius). What’s even more interesting is that it’s not the liquid that burns, it’s instead the vapors caused by evaporation that ignite. No, rubber is not flammable. The reason for the confusion comes from people thinking that the prefix in- of inflammable is the Latin. inflammable definition: 1. Hydrogen is highly flammable and burns at very low temperatures in the presence of a naked flame or spark. Very important. There are a couple of reasons why I felt it was important to look at the questions of whether helium is flammable, explosive, or both. Flammable and inflammable are two words that cause confusion. However, some synthetic rubbers, when burnt, can release chemicals such as cyanide and carbon monoxide. If you add further heat to it, then it will produce harmful fumes. Broken down like this, without the suffix on the end, “flame,” and “inflame,” have the same meaning. Lithium battery scientists say that there’s roughly a 1 in 1 million chance of any given lithium battery exploding by itself due to an internal fault. The flammable range is bounded by the Lower Flammable Limit (LFL)Upper. . Inflammable was the original word. Flammable and inflammable do not mean the same thing. Flammable and inflammable are two words that sound like they would have opposite meanings, but they actually mean the same thing. You can tell both words pertain to flames, but it's difficult to know whether they mean the same thing. Inflammable and flammable are synonyms and mean ” able to burn ” even though they look like opposites. But the good thing is that when once dry, it is not flammable. 63 degrees Celsius and thus Benzene is above its flashpoint at room temperature or even storage temperatures in most. In other words, they burn easily. Flammable and inflammable are both adjectives that mean “easily set on fire. There are specific criteria set by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) about flammable or combustible. ‘Flammable,’ the new kid on the block, didn’t appear in print until more than three hundred years later. Some liquids are volatile but NOT flammable. 'ravel' means to complicate, while 'unravel' in that sense would mean 'make clear something that was complicated'. For instance, oxygen is a non-flammable substance. The degree of difficulty required to cause the. 2 3. Something that will NOT. Inflammable looks like an opposite of flammable but in fact it has the same meaning. So they started saying "flammable" which. It produces large amounts of heat when burning in oxygen releasing 286 Kilojoules for every mol of hydrogen that is burned. The boiling point of a combustible liquid is always over 100 degrees Fahrenheit while a flammable liquid has a boiling point under 100 degrees. : from Latin flammare, from flamma ‘a flame’. 8°C), but below 200°F (93. The ‘in’ prefix in inflammable is derived from the Latin prefix ‘en’ meaning to cause a person or thing to be in (as in enslave, encourage). concentration over one‐fourth of the lower flammable limit. What Does Flammable Solid Mean? A flammable solid is a solid object that is combustible or that may be a contributor to a fire through friction or brief contact with a source of ignition. If the concentration exceeds the higher value (UEL), the air. Flammable: can be made to flame. The two categories of flammable solid are Category 1 and Category 2. " Water doesn’t burn because it’s already been through the process of combustion. "Flammable and inflammable both mean capable of burning. inflammable - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. Why does inflammable mean flammable? If something is flammable it means it can be set fire to, such as a piece of wood. " This older version of "infamous" came from Latin "infamosus" which meant "not well known. There is no difference in meaning between flammable and inflammable. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Flammable substances are defined as the substances which can easily catch fire or it can be set to fire. While flammable liquids have a flash point below 60 degrees. In such cases, the rubber may melt or release toxic fumes. Usage Note: Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. These six classes fall into either flammable liquids or. The truth is, flammable and inflammable mean almost the same thing: a substance burns easily or readily catches fire. Unstable liquid chemicals and certain types of fuel fall into this category. Latin had two prefixes "in-", one of whichFebruary 8, 2023. flammable: [adjective] capable of being easily ignited and of burning quickly. ’ And it’s meant that since at least 1605, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Different fabric types, like cotton and linen, also have a high burning rate, which can be lightened by applying nonflammable chemical additives. What to Know. Both describe things that are capable of burning or easy to ignite, but in all modern varieties of English, flammable is preferred. However, inflammable means that a substance is capabble of bursting into flames without the need for any ignition. They are synonyms. In air oxygen is mixed with. A flammable material can be a solid, liquid or gas. These flames are often controlled, but the danger arises when the bottle is too close to the stove. It could be that the substance is just flammable, or it may give off flammable gas. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Suppose you build a lab that is perfectly isolated from the outside world, meaning that no impurities or gases can enter it. Therefore, inflammable should mean"not flammable. 4 - Flash point > 60°C and ≤ 93°C. They are variant versions of a word meaning. Volatile means how quickly it evaporates. The thick, dark smoke produced by burning rubber is bad enough in itself, exposing people in the vicinity to the serious effects of smoke inhalation. It’s an oxidizing agent, which means that it helps other things burn. Ether is both very volatile and very flammable, so much so that most labs would prefer not to have it used anywhere where flames or sparks could. The reasons for the flammability of hydrogen are: Hydrogen doesn’t need any flashpoint to burn and ignite. Though it may not meet the OSHA standard for flammability, honey can still be a fire hazard in. Adding on that in the sense of the verb "inflammare," "in-" doesn't mean "not" like it does frequently in other contexts, but instead is just an intensifier. Davenport Daily Leader, 29 Jan. If the sauce container is next to the flame, eventually the bottle could explode. Improve this answer. (in)flammable means that it is easy to start the combustion. Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. But those wacky Romans also appended the prefix in-, which can mean “in” or “to cause to be,” onto flammare. Flammable liquids: 1 - Flash point < 23°C and initial boiling point ≤ 35°C. Usage note. Dichloromethane (DCM) is a widely used solvent by chemists. Fire is a non-solid block that can spread to nearby flammable blocks and destroy them. In fact, many perfume products do not contain any flammable solvents. Business, Economics, and Finance. Also, inflammable has another meaning for which flammable is not a synonym. You should never leave your perfume can near any heat or open flame as it can explode and cause a. ”. The higher the number, the more flammable the material. Abundant, dense foliage. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Inflammable. Inflammable substances are also known as combustible or flammable. The flame produced in this fire is nearly invisible as it sits mainly in the ultraviolet light spectrum and this is. Non-flammable means incapable of being ignited, not easily burned. That is why the term inflammable was changed to flammable so that the people might not get confused between them. Saturday 27 June 2009 22:26. 3 - Flash point ≥ 23°C and ≤ 60°C. Flammable definition: . Dangerous compounds may occur from heat, including isocyanate vapor. Flashpoint. This article will explore the results of these scientific inquiries to determine whether the. (physics) evaporating or vaporizing readily under normal conditions. This can lead to some confusion, with some individuals thinking that it means the opposite of flammable; that is, that it cannot be set on fire. Summary. Flammable cabinets are cabinets specifically designed to hold flammable liquids. Inflammable vs. While almost every material on earth will burn if it gets hot enough, many objects, like most types of metal, can't be made hot enough by everyday means of ignition. So the "in" in "inflammable" is not the same as the prefix "in-" that means "not". As a matter of fact, flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same capable of burning. Inflammable, derived from the verb inflame, is the original word. Why does flammable and inflammable mean the same thing? How can someone "draw a blank"? Shouldn't there be a shorter word for "monosyllabic"? Why is the word "abbreviate" so long? Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets? What is another word for "thesaurus"? Visit the previous joke about this topic!Why do flammable & inflammable mean the same thing?. able…. flammable - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. 4M subscribers in the NoStupidQuestions community. When you’re dealing with flammable liquids with a very low flash point, there can be a greater risk of fire, explosion and. Combustible, a. Flammable vs. However,. The antonym or word that means the opposite of flammable and inflammable is nonflammable. Unstable liquid chemicals and certain types of fuel fall into this category. At least "incombustible" definitely does mean the opposite of "combustible". Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow,. So "infamous" in this case is best understood as meaning "having a bad reputation. However, the presence of the prefix in– has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means “not flammable” or “noncombustible. To make things even more difficult, different oils have different flashpoints. Volatile means how quickly it evaporates. And it is thus logical to assume that if “flammable” means “catches fire easily,” “inflammable” would mean the opposite. In Middle English the word "infamous" did in fact mean "not well known. "She is easily inflamed" does not equal "She is easily flamed" The more I know. 07 degrees Fahrenheit or -11. Flammable = able to be set. However, inflammable means that a substance is capabble of. It is vital that these cabinets are kept closed. Examples of inflammable substances are alcohol, petrol, liquefied petroleum gas and so forth. It might seem like I am just splitting hairs, but that’s not really true. Red oak, for instance, is pretty low: it has a combustibility ratio of 3. These cabinets are generally unventilated, as ventilation can promote fire combustion. A small flame burned in the lamp. flammable / inflammable; savoury / unsavoury; sensible / insensible; valuable / invaluable; Word Origin early 19th cent. What Does Flammable Mean? Flammable refers to a property of liquids, solids or compounds that catch fire and how quickly or easily this happens. Flammable materials are the ones that are ignited or flame immediately when contacting with fire or high temperature in the air and continue to burn or slightly flame when leaving fire, such as plywood, fiberboard, wood and foil. Inflammable comes from Latin inflammare ("to inflame"), itself. Going back to the matter of flammability, yes alcohol is flammable. In terms of occupational health and safety, flammable liquids and gases are often of greatest concern, because they tend to be the most volatile and storing them in a fire-safe way is more. Even then, not all ethanol-based products burn the same way. In fact, most English words that begin with “in-” follow this pattern. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. In this case, rather than the prefix in- meaning “not,” as it often does, “inflammable” comes from the latin verb inflammare, which means “to cause to catch fire. com 'Inflammable' has always meant 'tends to catch fire easily'; but, because the prefix 'in-' often means 'not' (as in 'ineffective')and for that reason 'inflammable' might be misinterpreted,. This is the criteria OSHA uses for determining the flammability of liquids. And that most of these fires will happen long after the battery has been disposed of. , 25- 35 °C. According to NFPA, a flammable liquid is a liquid with a closed-cup flash point less than 100°F (38°C), whereas a combustible liquid is a liquid with a closed-cup flash point greater than or equal to 100°F (38°C). Gorilla Glue is highly flammable. In general, the relative hazard of a flammable liquid increase as the flashpoint decreases. USAGE NOTE: Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. Flammable and combustible materials achieve explosive tendencies depending on two factors: the concentration of vapors or particles suspended in air as well as the presence of an ignition source, whether that be heat or a spark. share. There is no difference in meaning between flammable and inflammable. And it is thus logical to assume that if “flammable” means “catches fire easily,” “inflammable” would mean the opposite. . Inflammable is derived from the word inflame. Oxygen is not flammable, but it does intensify the combustion process and can cause fire to burn hotter and faster. HIGHLY FLAMMABLE definition: Flammable chemicals, gases, cloth, or other things catch fire and burn easily . temporary or ephemeral. Inflammable substances are those substances which catch fire very easily and their ignition temperature is very low. Combustible liquids have a flashpoint above 100 F. However, the ignition temperature of bamboo is also lower than that of wood, which means that it will take longer to ignite and burn. The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. What does the. Saw it crop up in a comment - I'm guessing it's to do with its Latin history, but would like further. Inflammable and flammable are terms that mean the same to describe objects or items that can be burned, or ignited. Why does inflammable mean flammable? If something is flammable it means it can be set fire to, such as a piece of wood. If that’s what you came here for, you can close the tab. (computing, of a variable) having its associated memory immediately. The French world itself. Flammable is, however, often preferred for warning labels as there is less likelihood of misunderstanding ( inflammable being sometimes. Inflammable was the original word. In fact, one of our fart gases – hydrogen – is so flammable that it is. Some people think that inflammable means that it can’t be easily lit on fire, but this is a misconception. Helium is an inert gas which is non-reactive, allowing for some unique uses from balloons and blimps to other industries with dangerous. It can also convey that someone is sexy, (i. As it has a far higher flashpoint than gasoline, however, diesel requires a far higher temperature and air pressure to ignite, as opposed to gasoline that needs merely a spark. The ‘in’ prefix in inflammable is derived from the Latin prefix ‘en’ meaning to cause a person or thing to be in (as in enslave, encourage). These include 2:Hydrogen gas is highly reacted with flames for several reasons. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no difference between flammable and inflammable. 8°C), while a substance is considered combustible if its flash point is between 100°F and 200°F (37. Yes, diesel is flammable and can catch fire. Danger. Nonflammable is its opposite. Other paints are water-based and are generally not flammable. Something that will NOT. " Nonflammable means a material that is not easily set on fire and burned. Combustible, a. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. Inflammable comes from Latin inflammare ("to inflame"), itself from in - (here meaning "in" or "into") plus flammare ("to flame"). Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. These hydrocarbons are highly volatile and have a low flash point,. And what is the opposite?. In this case, rather than the prefix in- meaning "not," as it often does, "inflammable" comes from the latin. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Posted by Fauske & Associates on 05. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. However, once rubber starts to burn, it can be very difficult to extinguish and it produces very toxic smoke that is filled with dangerous chemicals. The in- of incombustible is a common prefix meaning "not," but the in- of inflammable is a different prefix. 8°C and 93. If something is flammable it means it can be set fire to, such as a piece of wood. flammable — easily set on fire; combustible; inflammable. Flammable gasses can include methane, acetylene, ammonia, hydrogen, propane, and propylene. That may be set on fire; easily enkindled; susceptible of combustion; as inflammable oils or spirits. ” Inflammable is the older by about 200 years. These terms are ones that are often confused simply because they do not mean what you think they should mean. Flammable gases mix readily with oxygen in the air outside our buttocks and can catch fire easily, even at low temperatures. Inflammable is by far the older of the two words. flammable definition: 1. Dichloromethane (DCM) is a widely used solvent by chemists. What does Inflammable mean? Flammable; Flammable; If it means flammable, shouldn't we remove the prefix 'in' hotkeys: D = random, W = upvote, S = downvote, A = backThe words inflammable and flammable both have the same meaning, ‘easily set on fire’. Although it seems logical that inflammable might mean “not flammable,” the word actually means the opposite, because the in- prefix of inflammable comes from the Latin word meaning “in” or “into. A flammable liquid is a liquid which can be easily ignited in air at ambient temperatures, i. Something that is flammable burns easily: 2. It is their vapours combined with air, not the liquid or solids themselves, that ignite and burn. In general, the relative hazard of a flammable liquid increase as the flashpoint decreases. It means the same as the word flammable. Another danger of using isopropyl alcohol is poisoning. Many volatile liquids are not combustible. It is easy to think of liquids that are both flammable and volatile: ethyl ether, pentane, gasoline, etc. "She is easily inflamed" does not equal "She is easily flamed" The more I know. Flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing: a substance burns easily or readily catches fire. In the word “flammable,” the root word is flame, regularly understood as affiliated with fire. The meaning of INFLAMMABLE is flammable. . Flammable and combustible materials are separated by their differences in boiling point and flashpoint. CryptoDefinitions and Differences: Flammable vs. The first element to consider is a matter of state. This is much less common or obvious, so much so that inflammable can all too easily be taken to mean “not capable of burning”, when it really means “very easily set on fire”. The derived word inflammable was so often misunderstood as non flammable due to the negative prefix 'in' that the Fire Protection Association started encouraging people to use the word 'flammable' instead in the 1920's. Inflammable comes from Latin inflammare ("to inflame"), itself from in - (here meaning "in" or "into") plus flammare ("to flame"). They can catch fire, meltdown, and even release a lot of heat. Flammable, inflammable, and combustible materials, though related, are not identical. Synonyms for INFLAMMABLE: combustible, explosive, flammable, combustive, ignitable, fiery, ignitible, burnable; Antonyms of INFLAMMABLE: fireproof, incombustible. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Flammable and inflammable mean the same thing: they both refer to a material that can easily catch fire and burn. likely to become violent or angry…. These materials can be a solid, a liquid, or a gas. flammable now has certain technical uses, particularly as a warning on vehicles carrying combustible materials, because of a belief that some might interpret the intensive prefix in-of inflammable as a.