Pronunciation: [ɛkstˈɪŋɡwɪʃɪŋ] (IPA) 
The word "extinguishing" is spelled /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɪŋ/. This word is a verb that means to put out or quench a fire, flame, or light. The spelling of this word may be confusing to some due to the "x" and "gu" combination. However, the "x" is pronounced as "ks" and the "gu" is silent, making the sound "gw" represented by the "g" alone. Once the pronunciation is understood, spelling "extinguishing" becomes less daunting.
Extinguishing is a verb that refers to the act or process of putting out or suppressing a fire, flame, or any other form of combustion. It involves eliminating or ending the burning or smoldering of a fire to prevent it from spreading further or causing damage or harm.
In a literal sense, extinguishing entails the use of various methods, such as water, fire extinguishers, or fire blankets, to interrupt the chemical reaction of the fire triangle (fuel, heat, oxygen) and reduce the temperature below the ignition point. By depriving the fire of one or more of these elements, extinguishing helps control and eliminate the fire.
Metaphorically, extinguishing can also be used to describe the process of eradicating or eliminating something, especially when it comes to emotions, desires, or unpleasant situations. For example, extinguishing a person's hope or extinguishing the flames of passion. In this context, it signifies the act of quenching or suppressing certain feelings or situations, extinguishing their presence or impact.
Overall, extinguishing is a versatile term that primarily relates to the action of putting out fires but can also be extended metaphorically to encompass the act of eliminating or suppressing various other phenomena. Whether in a literal or figurative sense, it implies the act of stopping or eradicating the source or effect of something undesirable.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "extinguishing" is derived from the Latin word "extinguere", which is a combination of the prefix "ex-" (meaning "out") and the verb "stinguere" (meaning "to quench" or "to extinguish"). This Latin verb is also the origin of the English word "extinguish", which refers to the act of putting out a fire or light, or the process of ending or destroying something. Over time, "extinguishing" evolved as the present participle form of "extinguish", commonly used to describe the ongoing action of extinguishing or putting out something.
