No, rubber is not flammable. Potentially, this misunderstanding could be disastrous. Dichloromethane (DCM) is a widely used solvent by chemists. ‘Nonflammable’ is the antonym. inflammable - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. The U. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. ” inflammable is the older by about 200 years. Combustible, a. What does the. why does flammable and inflammable have the same meaning? Close. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. No it isn't. Business, Economics, and Finance. Inflammable. Think about this as “setting on fire,” of “putting flame into or onto (something). Your body can handle small amounts of isopropyl alcohol. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Flammables can cause fires in the presence of oxygen and an ignition source. "Water doesn’t burn because it’s already been through the process of combustion. Inflammable. Benzene is a highly flammable liquid that burns very easily at relatively low temperatures. ”. ” The prefix –in in inflammable is not, however, the Latin negative prefix –in, which is related to the English –un and. To appropriately tell if Diesel is Flammable or not, both fuel liquids are Fire Hazard, the Gasoline is the typical Flammable liquid. Paints are formulated from several different ingredients and some paints require solvents to assist these ingredients to dissolve. . I also wouldn't question someones usage of "inflammable" to mean "not flammable" in the right context. ”. Solvent- and oil-based paints give texture and color, but they are flammable paints. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. According to OSHA, diesel has a flashpoint of over 199. In general, Loctite Super Glue can resist heat, but if you increase the temperature, then the bond will get weak. Dangerous chemical conditions may occur if it combusts. Flammable materials are those combustible materials, which can burn in the air easily by providing an ignition source. The ethanol in alcohol, otherwise known as ethyl alcohol, is in itself highly flammable. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines a flammable liquid as any liquid having a flash point at or below 199. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . capable of burning The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. "No, your refreshing glass of water won't spontaneously combust. What’s even more interesting is that it’s not the liquid that burns, it’s instead the vapors caused by evaporation that ignite. To avoid confusion, only use the term flammable. Also, some pyrophoric metallic elements like plutonium can ignite consistently in the air. Motor oil, on the other hand, requires a much higher temperature to combust. However,. But some people are thrown off by the in-and think inflammable means "not combustible". Something that will NOT. An inflammable substance or material burns very easily: 2. The most combustible solids are powdered, granular or pasty chemicals. Foliage with low moisture. While flammable liquids have a flash point below 60 degrees. In general, the relative hazard of a flammable liquid increases as the flash point decreases. Something that will NOT. 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". Inflammable and flammable are synonyms and mean ” able to burn ” even though they look like opposites. "I wonder whether they originally meant easily set on fire and not able to be set on fire, but over time they were confused to mean the same thing. There are two categories of flammable aerosols. The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. A substance is considered highly flammable if its ignition point is lower than 90 degrees F. : Usage Note: Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. His eyes flamed with anger. "Flammable and inflammable both mean capable of burning. It is not combustible, meaning it will not burn when exposed to a flame. So "infamous" in this case is best understood as meaning "having a bad reputation. Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer. 3M subscribers in the NoStupidQuestions community. See full list on dictionary. Inflammable is preferred in figurative contexts:. Flammable is, however, often preferred for warning labels as there is less likelihood of misunderstanding ( inflammable being sometimes. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. See examples of INFLAMMABLE used in a sentence. define: inflammable -gas or liquid able to ignite, explode or have adverse effect on humans or animals. Gasoline is made up of various hydrocarbons, which are compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms. both flammable and inflammable mean the same thing, isn't that crazy? messire lavoisel Saturday, October 25, 2003, 15:03 GMT "Inflammable" is the original word picked up from French and has always meant "liable to catch fire". Capable of being enkindled into flame. Dichloromethane (DCM) is a widely used solvent by chemists. The NFPA and OSHA differ in how they classify flammable liquids. Helium is an inert gas, which means that it is very stable and not very reactive. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. See examples of INFLAMMABLE used in a sentence. In Middle English the word "infamous" did in fact mean "not well known. However, rubber can still be a fire hazard if it is in close contact with a flame or spark. Inflammare, then, also meant “to cause to be on fire. However, inflammable means that a substance is capabble of bursting into flames without the need for any ignition. So, a fire (which is burning something in oxygen) can’t burn water because water is the end product of a hydrogen. The reason two words are required is because they describe different ways in which the material combusts. In fact, it is not classified as a. 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. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. it's like labeling something poisonous non-venomous . How to use inflammable in a sentence. Fire cannot be obtained as an item under any circumstances in Java Edition, though in Bedrock Edition. Both words mean the same thing, i. These flames are often controlled, but the danger arises when the bottle is too close to the stove. likely to become violent or angry…. In the early 20th century, firefighters worried that people might. Flammable definition: . Non-flammable means incapable of being ignited, not easily burned. In general, the relative hazard of a flammable liquid increase as the flashpoint decreases. The rate of evaporation varies greatly from […]Metals are flammable. Also, inflammable has another meaning for which flammable is not a synonym. Something that will NOT. These materials can be a solid, a liquid, or a gas. The degree of difficulty required to cause the. e. A flammable material can be a solid, liquid or gas. But the prefix “in-” can also mean “on” or “into. Going back to the matter of flammability, yes alcohol is flammable. ”. 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. It is easy to think of liquids that are both flammable and volatile: ethyl ether, pentane, gasoline, etc. non-flammable meaning: 1. ’ And it’s meant that since at least 1605, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. If that’s what you came here for, you can close the tab. Cf. Login . When we look at a word like inflammable, we instinctively feel it must be the. Why do flammable and inflammable mean the same? Both words mean the same thing, but one of them is bound to confuse most people. However, it can melt. ” Using nonflammable is one way to ensure clarity. Something that is flammable burns easily: 3. Capable of being enkindled into flame. " Water doesn’t burn because it’s already been through the process of combustion. " So signs began using "flammable" meaning "able to flame," so there would be no confusion. When vapors of a flammable liquid are combined with air in the right ratio, rapid combustion may occur in the presence of ignition. Gasoline is a highly flammable liquid, meaning that it can ignite and burn easily when exposed to a spark, flame, or high heat. : capable of being easily ignited and of burning quickly flammable noun Synonyms burnable combustible combustive fiery ignitable ignitible inflammable touchy See all Synonyms &. 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. According to the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, all flammable and combustible products must have a warning label. The reasons for the flammability of hydrogen are: Hydrogen doesn’t need any flashpoint to burn and ignite. " To muddy the waters a little more the word "infamous" changed meaning a while ago. "The combustibility ratio of HDPE is 25," Dr Nguyen said. In reality, flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing—capable of burning. [ in- flam- uh-b uhl ] show ipa. ‘Flammable,’ the new kid on the block, didn’t appear in print until more than three hundred years later. The term 'inflammable' [ɪnˈflæməbl] refers to something that is easily set on fire or likely to cause strong emotions or reactions. So why isn’t inflammable the opposite of flammable?. "She is easily inflamed" does not equal "She is easily flamed" The more I know. Gorilla Glue is highly flammable. Both words derive from the Latin inflammare, which translates as “to cause to catch fire”. Oxygen is not flammable, but it does intensify the combustion process and can cause fire to burn hotter and faster. Inflammable, derived from the verb inflame, is the original word. So you can say that rubber is not flammable. liable to catch fire; readily combustible; inflammable. )”. Oxidizing gas means any gas which may,. Flammable and inflammable are both adjectives that mean “easily set on fire. This means that, in practice, it will catch fire as soon as it is exposed to a naked flame or a spark without needing to be heated prior to this. Helium is an inert gas. Yes, gasoline can catch fire. A combustible liquid was defined as “Any liquid with a flashpoint at or above 100°F (37. A material will not be uniformly flammable, and, in fact, different compositions of the same material. Something that is non-flammable cannot burn or is very difficult to burn. Flammable and inflammable substances are also called combustible materials. Why does inflammable mean flammable? If something is flammable it means it can be set fire to, such as a piece of wood. Abundant, dense foliage. , 25- 35 °C. Metaphorically speaking, inflammable also can mean easily angered or excited. It might seem like I am just splitting hairs, but that’s not really true. While the word may imply a non-flammable substance, it is a common misconception. The words flammable and inflammable are often misinterpreted as opposites. It means the same as the word flammable. The opposite of both words is non-flammable. 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. verb. fiery, volatile, choleric. All Free. ” This makes no sense to the Modern English speaker. Flammable comes from the Latin word flamma, to set on fire. Thus, the presence of hydrogen and oxygen makes plastic explosive and flammable. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Dry, leathery leaves. 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. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Lots of dead leaves underneath the plant (litter) Needle-like or very fine leaves. flammable / inflammable; savoury / unsavoury; sensible / insensible; valuable / invaluable; Word Origin early 19th cent. These are the basic differences between flammable and inflammable substances. In general, a substance is considered flammable if its flash point is less than 100°F (37. FLAMMABLES. [Middle English, liable to inflammation, from Medieval Latin īnflammābilis, from Latin īnflammāre, to inflame; see inflame . Learn more. Why do flammable and inflammable mean the same? Both words mean the same thing, but one of them is bound to confuse most people. ” inflammable is the older by about 200 years. Both describe things that are capable of burning or easy to ignite, but in all modern varieties of English, flammable is preferred. No, oxygen is not inherently flammable. 63 degrees Celsius and thus Benzene is above its flashpoint at room temperature or even storage temperatures in most. But also, "in-" sometimes means "not" so people got worried that if you put "This product is inflammable" on stuff, people would think it's fireproof and then accidentally light it on fire. english) People often ask why "flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing. Oxygen is not flammable, as it does not burn, it supports burning. Why? The in- of incombustible is a common prefix meaning "not," but the in- of inflammable is a different prefix. com. Alcohol is just ethanol and water. Recently, comparison with other words where in- means "not" (like inedible and inaccurate ) has lead to inflammable being used to mean "not flammable". Fireproof These three terms Non-combustible mean the textile Non-flammable will not burn. Flammable placard. 'ravel' means to complicate, while 'unravel' in that sense would mean 'make clear something that was complicated'. Some people think that inflammable means that it can’t be easily lit on fire, but this is a misconception. inflammable mix a highly. Any liquid with a flashpoint less than 100 o F is considered to be a flammable liquid. arder. Flammable is, however, often preferred for warning labels as there is less likelihood of misunderstanding ( inflammable being sometimes. Hydrogen is highly flammable and burns at very low temperatures in the presence of a naked flame or spark. Why do people say oxygen is flammable? Oxygen is not flammable, but it does intensify the combustion process and can cause fire to burn hotter and faster. 3. Remember, both “flammable” and “inflammable” mean the same thing and can be used interchangeably. Inflammable definition: Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; flammable. Flammable and combustible liquids are liquids that can burn. (of a price etc) variable or erratic. 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). The word "flammable" is newer than inflammable and does not exist, for instance, in Indian English. However, flammable is much more frequent than inflammable and carries less risk of the meaning being confused. Business, Economics, and Finance. So do burnable, ignitable. Flammability is the ease with which a combustible substance can be ignited, causing fire or combustion or even an explosion. Some common non-flammable materials include water, sand, earth, stone, and metal. Why?. We can see this in words like: This version of “in-” comes from the. Jul 8, 2018. Flammable materials are materials that ignite when they come into contact with an open flame or high temperature in the air. They include tetrachloroethylene, chloroform, hexafluoroisopropanol and water. " This older version of "infamous" came from Latin "infamosus" which meant "not well known. In air oxygen is mixed with. This temperature is quite high and hard to sustain in a household. As a matter of fact, flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same — capable of burning. It could be that the substance is just flammable, or it may give off flammable gas. Something that is flammable burns easily: 2. It means that they have lower flashpoint temperature as compared to the Combustible materials. However, the presence of the prefix in– has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means “not flammable” or “noncombustible. What does the word flammable. is the proportion of vapor to air mixture that is ignitable and is expressed in terms of percentage of vapor in air by volume. Combustible liquids have a flashpoint above 100 F. Something that will NOT. inflammable: 1 adj easily ignited Synonyms: flammable combustible capable of igniting and burningHowever, this does not mean that all perfumes are flammable. Something that is flammable burns easily: 3. Combustible liquids have the ability to burn at temperatures that are usually above working temperatures. The two categories of flammable solid are Category 1 and Category 2. Inflammable was the original word. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. to burn with flames. Learn more. What does Unflammable mean?: not flammable : incapable of combustion —not used technically. 2. “non-flammable (gas, liquid, etc. Add to Mendeley. The first two mean the same thing, but one is preferred. So, why are there two different words? Some people mistake the words as having opposite meanings. Water is the product of the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, two elements that support combustion. Inflammable comes from Latin inflammare ("to inflame"), itself from in - (here meaning "in" or "into") plus flammare ("to flame"). This means they can easily be set on fire. Cite. . Non-flammable materials will not burn, while inflammable materials will catch fire and burn readily. The reason is that the in of. Therefore, water is unable to catch fire because it’s. Therefore, depending upon the conditions, properties can change. inflammable definition: 1. Many flammable and combustible liquids and solids are volatile in nature; that is, they evaporate quickly and are continually giving off vapours. 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. The terms flammable and inflammable refer to substances that can quickly ignite and start fires. Confusion started when a century or two. In the case of “inflammable,” however, the root word is “inflame,” which also is affiliated with fire and setting something alight. flammable; easily inflamed, excited, or angered : irascible… See the full definition. 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). Diesel is. All Free. 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?. Bamboo is more flammable than wood. SYNONYMS 2. Flammable is, however, often preferred for warning labels as there is less likelihood of misunderstanding (inflammable being sometimes taken to mean not flammable). The enormous volume and frequency of use of flammable and combustible liquids and gases handled worldwide implies that the risk of industrial accidents is great. This means that it will not ignite a fire under normal ambient pressure and temperature. Flammability of clothing depends on a number of factors. 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. 3°C)”. Learn more. Are you ready?There isn’t one. Flammable = able to be set. e. S. Inflammable originally meant "can get inflamed" which means it can become on fire. In this case, rather than the prefix in- meaning “not,” as it often does, “inflammable” comes. This means that, in practice, it will catch fire as soon as it is exposed to a naked flame or a spark without needing to be heated prior to this. Flammable and inflammable are two words that sound like they would have opposite meanings, but they actually mean the same thing. Unstable liquid chemicals and certain types of fuel fall into this category. If something is flammable it means it can be set fire to, such as a piece of wood. Flammable substances can exist in a solid, liquid or gaseous state. able…. Inflammable comes from the Latin word inflamma, to inflame. (of a situation) potentially violent. There may be a word that meets your criterion but the dictionary has this note about your example. " After all, you might have heard the word "inflame" and understand it to meant to set something on fire or to make a fire bigger. Note: The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has a very different definition of a flammable liquid and even more different classification. A flammable liquid is a liquid which can be easily ignited in air at ambient temperatures, i. Improve this answer. From that noun came the verb flammare “to flame,” that is, “to set on fire. The main difference between flammable and combustible liquids is the flashpoint, which refers to the lowest temperature at which the vapors generated by a liquid turn into a flammable gas and can ignite. Different fabric types, like cotton and linen, also have a high burning rate, which can be lightened by applying nonflammable chemical additives. Any aerosol that contains ≥ 85% flammable components (by mass) with a heat of combustion ≥ 30 kJ/g, and (if applicable) an ignition distance ≥ 75 cm (for spray aerosols) or a flame height ≥ 20 cm and a flame duration ≥ 2 s; or a flame height ≥ 4 cm and a flame duration ≥ 7 s (for foam aerosols). It can also convey that someone is sexy, (i. Due to its extreme. in·flam·ma·ble. it's like labeling something poisonous non-venomous Inflammable. The polishes also don’t contain alcohol, formaldehyde, or toluene. So why are both of these words used when they seem like they would have the opposite definition, but in fact mean the exact same thing? The prefix “in-” does not always serve as being negative. Flammable, Inflammable; Tomato, TomahtoThat’s right, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing: capable of being set on. The oxygen is what makes the fire burn at a much lower temperature, making the whole thing burn a lot hotter and faster. The meaning of flammable is able to be easy ignited; inflammable is the antonym of flammable. Are there any other words that retain the exact same meaning when you add a prefix to them? And why (from an etymology standpoint) does the meaning of the word flammable not change when the prefix in- is added? I know that prefix can have a couple of. In this case, rather than the prefix in- meaning “not,” as it often does, “inflammable” comes from the. As a result of this danger, flammable liquids need to be stored and. The meaning of INFLAMMABLE is flammable. When you’re dealing with flammable liquids with a very low flash point, there can be a greater risk of fire, explosion and. The higher the number, the more flammable the material. Argon is an unreactive, noble gas. Note that we still say inflammatory speeches not *flammatory speeches, inflammation of the skin not *flammation of the skin, etc. e. Flammable is the more recent and also the more common of the. Learn more. " The Latin Inflammare. ] | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examplesThe short answer, yes propane is flammable. Sometimes people will say, “Flammable means it will catch fire and combustible means it will explode when ignited. 8°C), while a substance is considered combustible if its flash point is between 100°F and 200°F (37. Flammable substances are defined as the substances which can easily catch fire or it can be set to fire. There are two types of water-based paints, which are latex and acrylic paints. However, the ignition temperature of bamboo is also lower than that of wood, which means that it will take longer to ignite and burn. Though it may not meet the OSHA standard for flammability, honey can still be a fire hazard in. Broken down like this, without the suffix on the end, “flame,” and “inflame,” have the same meaning. USAGE NOTE: Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. 0. They are variant versions of a word meaning. Flammable and combustible materials are separated by their differences in boiling point and flashpoint. It is crazy, impolite means ''not polite'', but imflammable does not mean ''not flammable''. The flashpoint of diesel is about 140°F (60 Celsius). At least "incombustible" definitely does mean the opposite of "combustible". For instance, oxygen is a non-flammable substance. The Free Dictionary advises using only flammable to give warnings: Usage Note: Historically, flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. What does inflammable mean? Information and translations of inflammable in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. They can catch fire, meltdown, and even release a lot of heat. The risk of a fire starting increases in relation to the amount of gas present. Inflammable and inflammatory can be confused with one another, but they also offer their own source of confusion with the prefix in-. So, why are. Learn more. However, despite the fact that carbon is usually not flammable (technically), it will burn, and, in some cases, it will burn very well, indeed. However, when ‘flammable’ was introduced. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. Inflammable comes from Latin inflammare ("to inflame"), itself from in - (here meaning "in" or "into") plus flammare ("to flame"). Note that combustible is not the same as (in)flammable: combustible means that a substance can burn or be burned. 1 (a): are ignitable when in a mixture of 13% or less by volume in air. 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. likely to become violent or angry…. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States Department of. In addition, perfumes are flammable because they contain alcohol, which can easily catch fire. Metaphorically speaking, inflammable also can mean easily. They are synonyms. FLAMMABLE (EXPLOSIVE) LIMITS. I've always wondered why the words flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. The adjectives flammable and inflammable mean exactly the same thing: easily set on fire and capable of burning quickly. So here, "inflammable" isn't meant to be parsed as in-(flammable) as in "not able to set on fire" but rather (inflamm)-able as in, "able to be inflamed. Gasoline is a flammable liquid, and is inflammable. Historically, the only word was inflammable, dating to at least the 16th. So they started saying "flammable" which. Combustible, a. Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer. The explosive flammable range of a combustible gas or vapor is the range between the lower exposure limit (LEL) and the upper exposure limit (UEL) for that particular gas or vapor. It does not act as fuel for the fire to burn, it does however act as the oxidizing part of the fire triangle. Related:It means they are less volatile and hence, they will not burn easily at working temperature i. Although the spelling "imflammable" doesn't seem to have ever been at all common relative to either inflammable or flammable, it does seem to have had Flammable and inflammable are two words with the same meaning. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. " The prefix in- in inflammable is not, however, the Latin negative. 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. Usage note. Motor oil is not technically flammable, that’s because OSHA defines “flammable liquids” as those that ignite when they are in the presence of “an ignition source” below 199. easily. Okay, let us get this clear once and for all, yes super glue is flammable. 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. . You should see oxygen rather as the substance that supports the combustion process rather than being a catalyst for it. 1. explanation, please!What does flammable mean and inflammable mean? Flammable AND inflammable both mean that something can easily catch fire. The word "inflammable" may be erroneously thought to mean "non-flammable". Flammable These three Inflammable words mean the Combustible textile will burn readily. It is vital that these cabinets are kept closed. 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. CryptoInflammable looks like an opposite of flammable but in fact it has the same meaning. Something that will NOT burn is nonflammable. : capable of being set on fire and of burning quickly : flammable. Are you ready?There isn’t one. Volatile means how quickly it evaporates. flammable / inflammable; savoury / unsavoury; sensible / insensible; valuable / invaluable; Word Origin early 19th cent. Nonflammable definition: . . High oil or resin including gums or terpenes. However, inflammable means that a substance is capabble of bursting into flames without the need for any ignition. Inflammable is an older term.