ignite

Etymology

From Latin ignītus, past participle of igniō, ignire (“to set on fire, ignite”), from Latin ignis (“fire”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁n̥gʷnis, and thus related to Sanskrit अग्नि (agní), Lithuanian ugnis, and Russian ого́нь (ogónʹ).

verb

1. (transitive) to set fire to (something), to light (something)
2. (transitive) to spark off (something), to trigger
   ignite curiosity
   ignite someone's interest
   Our observations on the way up had been mixed but the deep, crisp cold of the Peruvian night followed by a crystal clear dawn re-ignited our enthusiasm and sent us scampering across the frozen snow bowl […] 2005, Mick Fowler, On Thin Ice: Alpine Climbs in the Americas, Asia and the Himalaya
3. (intransitive) to commence burning.
4. (chemistry, transitive) To subject to the action of intense heat; to heat strongly; often said of incombustible or infusible substances.
   to ignite iron or platinum