The process of a body or object burning itself up or being destroyed by its own internal heat or chemical reactions.
From auto- (self) + cremation (burning, from Latin 'cremare'). This technical term combines the prefix meaning 'self' with the well-known process of cremation, indicating self-initiated burning rather than external combustion.
Autocremation describes what happens to some asteroids when they enter Earth's atmosphere—their own speed and friction with air creates so much heat they incinerate themselves, which is why most meteors burn up before hitting the ground.
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