burning
Americanadjective
-
aflame; on fire.
-
very hot; simmering.
The water was burning.
-
very bright; glowing.
She wore a burning red bathing suit.
-
caused by or as if by fire, a burn, or heat.
He had a burning sensation in his throat.
-
intense; passionate.
a burning desire.
-
urgent or crucial.
a burning question.
noun
-
the state, process, sensation, or effect of being on fire, burned, or subjected to intense heat.
-
the baking of ceramic products to develop hardness and other properties.
-
the heating or the calcining of certain ores and rocks as a preliminary stage in various industrial processes.
adjective
-
intense; passionate
-
urgent; crucial
a burning problem
noun
-
a form of heat treatment used to harden and finish ceramic materials or to prepare certain ores for further treatment by calcination
-
overheating of an alloy during heat treatment in which local fusion or excessive oxide formation and penetration occur, weakening the alloy
-
the heat treatment of particular kinds of gemstones to change their colour
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of burning
First recorded before 1000; Middle English brenning, Old English byrnende; see burn 1, -ing 1, -ing 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Using a wooden spoon, stir the lentils often to avoid burning them.
From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026
Cubans have protested by banging pots and burning garbage.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
"One of the biggest challenges of burning oil spills is the sheer volume of smoke emitted," Oran said.
From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026
The San Bernardino County Fire Department reported the fire around 3:45 a.m., writing on social media that a single rail car was burning on the tracks near Cajon Boulevard south of Swarthout Canyon Road.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
The top of a burning tree fell onto the road in front of the car, and Akira ducked in fear as Daniel plowed over it.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
