flashpoint

flashpoint — noun

1. a place, time, or situation where violence or angry conflict is very likely to b

1.名詞B2
釋義

a place, time, or situation where violence or angry conflict is very likely to break out suddenly

例句

Bilal warned colleagues that the street corner was a flashpoint for gang activity after dark.

flashpoint + for [noun phrase describing conflict]

The disputed border region has long been a flashpoint where tensions easily escalate into violence.

同義詞
  • hot spot

    emphasises a geographic location where trouble is frequent, whereas flashpoint can also refer to a moment in time

  • tinderbox

    more dramatic — suggests a situation ready to explode at any moment; less precise than flashpoint

  • trouble spot

    informal and neutral; conveys ongoing problems but not necessarily the sudden outbreak implied by flashpoint

反義詞

文法句型

flashpoint + for [noun]

become a flashpoint

常見錯誤

❌The disagreement had reached its flashpoint.
✅The disagreement had reached a flashpoint.
💡flashpoint is countable and often used with the indefinite article when referring to a specific situation.
❌The situation was a flashpoint.' (without further context)
✅The situation was a flashpoint for ethnic tensions.
💡the pattern flashpoint + for + [type of conflict] makes the meaning clearer.

2. the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to ignite in o

2.名詞C1
釋義

the minimum temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to ignite in open air

例句

The safety data sheet states that the flashpoint of ethanol is about thirteen degrees Celsius.

flashpoint of [substance] — the typical pattern

Firefighters checked the flashpoint of every chemical stored in the warehouse before the inspection.

同義詞
  • ignition point

    a broader term that can refer to any temperature at which a substance catches fire; flashpoint is more specific to liquid-vapour ignition

  • kindling point

    less common in modern technical use; more often used for solid materials like wood

文法句型

flashpoint of [substance]

have a flashpoint of [temperature]

用法筆記

The flashpoint of a liquid should not be confused with its autoignition temperature, which is higher — flashpoint is the minimum temperature at which enough vapour is produced to ignite if an open flame is present.

常見錯誤

❌The flashpoint of water is 100°C.
✅The boiling point of water is 100°C.
💡flashpoint refers to ignition of vapour, not boiling or melting.
❌This chemical has a high flashpoint, so it is very dangerous.
✅This chemical has a low flashpoint, so it is very dangerous.
💡a low flashpoint means it catches fire more easily.