arson

Meaning

Noun

The crime of deliberately starting a fire with intent to cause damage.

Verb

To illegally set fire to; to burn down in a criminal manner.

Synonyms

incendiarism

fire-raising

burning

set on fire

set fire to

fire under suspicious circumstances

burn down

arsonry

firing

pyromania

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɑɹsən/

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman and Old French arson, from the verb ardoir, from Latin ardeō (“to burn”). Compare ardent.