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to scorch

to scorch

20 3.5
To burn the surface slightly and make a brown mark
  • verb
  • /skɔrtʃ/
translation icon : chamuscar
  • 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

to singe
vsto scorch
6 4.2

Burn the surface of something lightly with heat or flame

is similar but stresses browning and discoloration more
to seng
vsto scorch
  • UK
9.9

To burn the surface of something slightly with heat

has the same meaning and is used in the same situations
to singed
vsto scorch
3.0

To burn something lightly on the surface

is similar but emphasizes browning rather than charring

Antonyms

496 3.4

To keep people and things safe from harm or change

Compounds

leaf scorch
  • Specialized
7.6

Leaves with brown edges that look burned from heat, drought or poor watering

How Burned

to incinerate
33 7.1
to burn
1.0
to char
53 4.6
to scorch
20 3.5
to singe
6 4.2

Surface Forms

scorch infinitive
scorched past
scorched past participle
scorching present participle
scorches third person singular

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.