arsonar‧son /ˈɑːsən $ ˈɑːr-/ noun [uncountable] 
The school was destroyed in an arson attack.► see thesaurus at crime
WORD ORIGINarson
Origin:
1600-1700 Old French ardre ‘to burn’, from Latin ardere; ➔ ARDENTEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Brooks was arrested for arson in North Carolina.
- Police are treating the fire as a case of arson.
- Bedford Correctional Facility after serving 10 years for arson, .
- Fire experts still haven't ruled out arson.
- I was also fairly sure we would find ample evidence of their connections to the increased arson and bombing attacks on clinics.
- Last month Duriez and Tibbles was found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson.
- Read in studio A school fire in Buckinghamshire which has caused fifty thousand pounds damage is being treated as arson.
- The group said that 15 of the arson fires remain unsolved.
- There were riots, arson, and killings.
THESAURUScrimes against property
noun [uncountable] the crime of deliberately setting fire to a building: · The school was completely destroyed in an arson attack.
noun [uncountable] the crime of deliberately damaging things, especially public property: · He often got into fights and committed acts of vandalism.
Longman Language Activatorto make or start a fire · He made a fire out of old rags and newspapers.· There isn't enough wood here to build a fire.
to deliberately make a fire start burning, especially in order to provide heat or to cook something: · It was her job to light a fire every morning before the family got up.· In such a strong wind it was almost impossible to light a fire.
to make a fire start burning, especially in a place where it might cause damage: · The kids accidentally started a fire in the garage.· The fire was started by a carelessly tossed cigarette.
the crime of deliberately starting a fire in order to damage a building or property: · Police are treating the fire as a case of arson.· Brooks was arrested for arson in North Carolina.
WORD SETSabet, verbaccusation, nounaccuse, verbaffray, nounarson, nounassault, nounassault and battery, nounbackhander, nounbattery, nounbigamy, nounblack market, nounblack marketeer, nounbreak-in, nounbreaking and entering, nouncaper, nouncapital, adjectivecarjacking, nouncat burglar, nouncontract, nouncosh, nouncounterfeit, adjectivecounterfeit, verbcover, nouncrack, verbcriminal, adjectivecriminal, nouncriminal law, nouncriminal record, nouncriminology, nouncrook, nounculpable, adjectiveculprit, noundefamation, noundefraud, verbdelinquency, noundelinquent, adjectivedelinquent, noundesperado, noundisorderly, adjectivedrug baron, noundrug runner, nounDUI, nounembezzle, verbexpropriate, verbextort, verbeyewitness, nounfelon, nounfelony, nounfence, nounfiddle, nounfiddle, verbfiddler, nounfilch, verbfinger, verbfire-raising, nounfirst offender, nounflash, verbflasher, nounforge, verbforger, nounforgery, nounfoul play, nounframe, verbframe-up, nounfratricide, nounfraud, nounfreebooter, noungang, noungang-bang, noungang rape, noungangster, nounGBH, noungenocide, noungetaway, noungodfather, noungrand larceny, noungrass, noungrievous bodily harm, nounheist, nounhijack, verbhijack, nounhijacking, nounhit, nounhit-and-run, adjectivehit man, nounincriminate, verbindecent assault, nounindecent exposure, nouninfanticide, nounjob, nounjoyriding, nounjuvenile delinquent, nounkidnap, verblarceny, nounlibel, nounlibel, verblibellous, adjectivelow life, nounmafioso, nounmalpractice, nounmanslaughter, nounmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmatricide, nounmisappropriate, verbmisconduct, nounmisdeed, nounmisdemeanour, nounmobster, nounmoll, nounmug, verbmugshot, nounmurder, nounmurder, verbmurderer, nounmurderess, nounmuscleman, nounnark, nounnefarious, adjectiveneighbourhood watch, nounnick, verbno-go area, nounoffence, nounoffend, verboffender, nounold lag, nounorganized crime, nounoutlaw, nounparricide, nounpatricide, nounpetty larceny, nounPhotofit, nounpiracy, nounplant, verbpoach, verbpoacher, nounpossession, nounprivateer, nounprotection, nounprowl, verbprowler, nounpublic nuisance, nounpull, verbpunk, nounpurloin, verbraid, nounram-raiding, nounrape, verbrape, nounrapist, nounravish, verbreceiver, nounreceiving, nounrecidivist, nounregicide, nounring, nounringleader, nounriotous, adjectiverob, verbrobber, nounrobbery, nounroll, verbrustler, nounscheme, nounscheme, verbshady, adjectiveshoplift, verbshoplifting, nounslander, nounsmuggle, verbsnout, nounspeeding, nounstabbing, nounstalking, nounstatutory offence, nounstatutory rape, nounsteal, verbstoolpigeon, nounsupergrass, nounsuspect, nounswag, nountheft, nounthief, nounthievish, adjectivetorch, verbtraffic, nountrafficker, nountriad, noununder-the-counter, adjectiveunderworld, nounundesirable, nounvagrancy, nounvandal, nounvandalism, nounvandalize, verbvice, nounvigilante, nounvillainy, nounviolate, verbviolation, nounwanted, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The school was destroyed in an arson attack.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
the crime of deliberately making something burn, especially a building: The school was destroyed in an arson attack. (=intended to destroy a building by burning it)· Ten classrooms were completely destroyed in the arson attack.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Richard Fielding, 21, has admitted an arson attack that killed seven members of the same family.· The hut at North Park, Darlington, was destroyed in an arson attack last year.· Who will pay?: Insurance fears after school arson attack.· Party workers have been rallying around since last Thursday night's arson attack which caused tens of thousands worth of damage.· Ten classrooms were gutted in the arson attack, and three fire fighters were treated for smoke inhalation.· It's expected to be some weeks before all the shops damaged in the arson attack can be re-opened.· Read in studio An airman who helped destroy evidence after a twenty million pound arson attack has been fined fifteen hundred pounds.
· Following an 8-day trial at Bristol Crown Court, the 3 men were cleared of manslaughter and arson charges.· He was being held on arson charges at Santa Rita Jail.· He ruled it would be inconsistent to consider the arson charge.· Harper, Smith and Winter had denied a joint charge of the manslaughter of the girls, and a joint arson charge.· Pearson, of Tadcaster, admitted three arson charges and asked for eight others to be considered.
VERB· Seven men, all from Bristol, admitted conspiracy to commit arson.· Last month Duriez and Tibbles was found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson.· In Newcastle-upon-Tyne an eight-year-old is found stealing cars, committing arson and assaulting teachers.
The school was destroyed in an arson attack.► see thesaurus at crime