incinerate

IPA/ɪnˈsɪnəreɪt/
KK[ˌɪnsˈɪnɚˌet]IPA/ɪnˈsɪnəreɪt/

incinerate — verb

  • incineratepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • incinerateshe / she / it
  • incineratedpast simple
  • incinerating-ing form

1. to destroy something by burning it at an extremely high temperature so that it t

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to destroy something by burning it at an extremely high temperature so that it turns to ash, most often used for waste, documents, or other unwanted materials.

例句

The city council decided to incinerate the chemical waste at a special facility.

passive: be incinerated at [facility]

Saira incinerated the bundle of old love letters in the backyard fire pit.

同義詞
  • burn

    the everyday, less formal equivalent; does not necessarily imply complete destruction

  • cremate

    specifically for human remains, not for objects or waste

  • consume

    literary or journalistic use; 'flames consumed the building' suggests dramatic, total destruction

反義詞
  • preserve

    to keep something safe from harm or decay

文法句型

incinerate + noun phrase

be incinerated (at/in/by + noun phrase)

用法筆記

Unlike the everyday verb 'burn,' incinerate implies total destruction to ash and is rarely used in casual conversation about cooking or small accidents. It appears most often in news reports about fires, waste management, and official procedures.

常見錯誤

❌I accidentally incinerated the toast this morning.
✅I accidentally burned the toast this morning.
💡'incinerate' is too formal for everyday situations and implies total destruction to ash, not just scorching.