scald

¹ American  

[skawld] / skɔld /

verb (used with object)

1. to burn or affect painfully with or as if with hot liquid or steam.

2. to subject to the action of boiling or hot liquid.

3. to heat to a temperature just short of the boiling point.

   to scald milk.

4. to parboil or blanch (fruit, vegetables, etc.).

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verb (used without object)

1. to be or become scalded.

noun

1. a burn caused by the action of hot liquid or steam.

2. any similar condition, especially as the result of too much heat or sunlight.

3. Plant Pathology.

   1. a blanching of the epidermis and adjacent tissues, which turn pale or dark brown, caused by extreme heat or sun exposure.

   2. a condition resembling scald caused by improper conditions of growth or storage, as in apples, or by fungi, as in cranberries.

scald ² American  

[skawld] / skɔld /

adjective

1. Also scalled scabby; covered with scurf.

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noun

1. a scab.

scald ¹ British  

/ skɔːld /

verb

1. to burn or be burnt with or as if with hot liquid or steam

2. (tr) to subject to the action of boiling water, esp so as to sterilize

3. (tr) to heat (a liquid) almost to boiling point

4. (tr) to plunge (tomatoes, peaches, etc) into boiling water briefly in order to skin them more easily

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noun

1. the act or result of scalding

2. an abnormal condition in plants, characterized by discoloration and wrinkling of the skin of the fruits, caused by exposure to excessive sunlight, gases, etc

scald ² British  

/ skɔːld /

adjective

1. scabby

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noun

1. a scab or a skin disease producing scabs

scald ³ British  

/ skɔːld /

noun

1. a variant spelling of skald

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Other Word Forms

• nonscalding adjective
• scalder noun
• unscalded adjective
• unscalding adjective

Etymology

Origin of scald¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb scalde(n), scolde(n), from Anglo-Latin scal(a)dāre, escaudāre, and Old French eschalder, eschauder, from Late Latin excaldāre “to wash in hot water”; ex- ¹, caldarium

Origin of scald²

First recorded in 1490–1500; scall + -ed ³

Example Sentences

The unseasonable heat will linger into Friday, weaken slightly over the weekend and then dial up to scalding again next week, according to the National Weather Service.

From Los Angeles Times

It was hot enough to scald my tongue, but the heat of the cup warmed my hands as I stole a look at the drawing on the box.

From Literature

When this anger boiled over, it threatened to scald more than the British.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Let’s get out of here,” I yelled at Rowdy, and tore out down a game trail like a scalded cat.

From Literature

I parked on a scalding day in late winter at an outdoor lot in downtown L.A. surrounded by corporate skyscrapers, the sidewalks lined with housing encampments.

From Los Angeles Times