This section is from the book "The Engineer's And Mechanic's Encyclopaedia", by Luke Hebert. Also available from Amazon: Engineer's And Mechanic's Encyclopaedia.
Ignition, in its general sense, properly signifies the setting fire to any substance. But the sense is more usually limited to the kind of burning which is not accompanied with flame, such as that of metals, stones, and other substances, which become red hot without melting.
 
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