combust-v; 3 Senses

Sense Number 1: burst into flames (telic)

Commentary: Notes: may be used metaphorically Sytax includes: NP1[patient] COMBUST (PP[product]) (PP[cause]) NP1[agent] COMBUST NP2[patient]

Examples:
The oily rags combusted spontaneously.
The ivory wand was raised, and Kamahl focused on that as he willed the magical tool to combust.
I feel like I'm gonna spontaneously combust.
Long, blonde strands combusted at her touch.
She combusted into a ball of light, lightning bright.
One time this guy looked him in his eyes and Chuck Norris spontaneously combusted him.
Poverty, crime and segregation can combust into the kind of violence that erupted in Benton Harbor.
By the time the tension combusted into rioting, Asian youth had been worked into a frenzy.

Mappings:
VerbNet: other_cos-45.4
FrameNet: Setting_fire
PropBank: combust.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 2: cause to undergo burning (atelic)

Commentary: Sytax includes: NP1[agent|cause] COMBUST NP2[patient] (PP[instrument]) NP1[patient] COMBUST

Examples:
We combust coal and other fossil fuels.
If this were the old firestone, all the sea air would have combusted it long ago.
When biomass is combusted, all of those elements are oxidized.
Whatever fuel was combusting on the ridge had to have been gathered specially for the purpose.
Most fossil fuels are combusted with ambient air.

Mappings:
VerbNet: other_cos-45.4
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: combust.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 5

Sense Number 3: cause to erupt into strong emotion, usually rage

Commentary: Sytax includes: NP1[experiencer[animate|organization]] COMBUST (PP[cause]) (PP[end_state]) NP1[cause] COMBUST NP2[experiencer[animate|organization]]

Examples:
The professor combusted when the student didn't know the answer to a very elementary question.
Riots combusted Pakistan after the U.S. air attacks on Afghanistan.
She combusted into tears as she slapped him across the face with as much disgust as she could muster.
This driver's rage has combusted him.
Suddenly she combusted into a jingle of laughter.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: combust.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3, 4