to scorch
12
3.5
- verb
- /skɔrtʃ/
- The rays of the sun can scorch the skin if you don't apply sunscreen.
- scorched by heat
Examples
-
The paint on the Second Seal begins to bubble and scorch and then cools as the fire subsides.
Fiction book (1997) -
This is a sedum and full sun would scorch this poor little thing.
-
So this one is going to be perfect because they tend to scorch in our afternoon sun.
-
At noon, in the August sun, it will scorch your feet through your shoes.
Fiction book (1996) -
The tea is scorching, I do apologize.
-
My father used to like his meat just barely scorched.
-
The boys had taken their T-shirts off, and the sun scorched their already bronzed skin.
Fiction book (1997) -
Harvest usually occurs in the morning to protect the crawfish from the Central Valley's scorching summer heat.
Academic text (2013) -
Nineteenth-century European travelers described the scorching, scrubby bush region of Tsavo as hostile and practically uninhabited.
Academic text (2005) -
When I left the bread in the oven for too long, it scorched and became inedible.
Synonyms
10
3.0
To burn something lightly on the surface
6
4.2
Burn the surface of something lightly with heat or flame
1
9.9
To burn the surface of something slightly with heat
Antonyms
Compounds
- Specialized
1
7.6
Leaves with brown edges that look burned from heat, drought or poor watering
How Burned
Surface Forms
Etymology
Scorch comes from an old French word escorchier that meant 'to strip the skin' or 'flay'. Imagine heat taking off the top layer of something — that's why scorch means to burn or singe a surface slightly, leaving a brown mark.