From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Ignite \Ig*nite"\, v. i.
To take fire; to begin to burn.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Ignite \Ig*nite"\ ([i^]g*n[imac]t"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Ignited; p. pr. & vb. n. Igniting.] [L. ignitus, p. p. of
ignire to ignite, fr. ignis fire. See Igneous.]
1. To kindle or set on fire; as, to ignite paper or wood.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Chem.) To subject to the action of intense heat; to heat
strongly; -- often said of incombustible or infusible
substances; as, to ignite iron or platinum.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
ignite
v 1: cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat;
"Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter"; "Light a
cigarette" [syn: ignite, light] [ant: blow out,
extinguish, quench, snuff out]
2: start to burn or burst into flames; "Marsh gases ignited
suddenly"; "The oily rags combusted spontaneously" [syn:
erupt, ignite, catch fire, take fire, combust,
conflagrate]
3: arouse or excite feelings and passions; "The ostentatious way
of living of the rich ignites the hatred of the poor"; "The
refugees' fate stirred up compassion around the world"; "Wake
old feelings of hatred" [syn: inflame, stir up, wake,
ignite, heat, fire up]