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”; see origin at ex- ¹, caldarium

Origin of scald²

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

Explanation

You could scald yourself if your bathwater is too hot. To scald something is to burn it with hot liquid. However, if a recipe tells you to “scald the milk,” it means to heat it to the moment just before it boils. The verb scald comes from the Late Latin word excaldare, meaning “bathe in hot water.” For example, if you scald a tomato in boiling water for one minute, it will be easy to peel. In medieval times, or any era when people protected their castles by pouring hot oil from the turrets, they scalded their enemies. Nice.

Example Sentences

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

He noted a major concern was the overheating asphalt, which could scald paws.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 10, 2024

Leo’s veterinarian said in his case file that he had been losing weight throughout the year and had urine scald, a condition the vet said couldn’t be treated in the lab setting.

From Washington Times • Dec. 13, 2023

Conservative MP, Selaine Saxby, who proposed the idea, argued that the "right to scald a sausage anywhere" was causing "damage and destruction."

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2022

He is stooped, spindly, his long hair full of sticks, with a scald crow perched on one shoulder.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black