singe

American  

[sinj] / sɪndʒ /

verb (used with object)

singed, singeing

1. to burn superficially or slightly; scorch.

   Synonyms:

   char

2. to burn the ends, projections, nap, or the like, of (hair, cloth, etc.).

3. to subject (the carcass of an animal or bird) to flame in order to remove hair, bristles, feathers, etc.

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noun

1. a superficial burn.

2. the act of singeing.

singe British  

/ sɪndʒ /

verb

1. to burn or be burnt superficially; scorch

   to singe one's clothes

2. (tr) to burn the ends of (hair, etc)

3. (tr) to expose (a carcass) to flame to remove bristles or hair

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noun

1. a superficial burn

Related Words

See burn ¹.

Other Word Forms

• singeingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of singe

First recorded before 1000; Middle English sengen (verb), Old English sencgan; cognate with Dutch zengen, German sengen; akin to Old Norse sangr “singed, burnt”

Explanation

To burn something just a little bit is to singe it. If you get too close to your backyard fire pit, you might singe your shirt sleeve. When you singe your finger on a hot stove, it hurts, and when you singe your scarf on a campfire, you'll smell it starting to burn. The verb singe comes from the Old English root word sengan, "to burn lightly, or to burn the edges." One trick to the word singe is that when you add an ing, you need to be sure you keep the e — otherwise, instead of singeing, you'll be singing.

Example Sentences

In “Un Singe en hiver,” a French classic directed by Henri Verneuil in 1962, Belmondo impressed the legendary Jean Gabin.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 6, 2021

Singe is constantly cranky and always takes it out on others.

From Scientific American • Jun. 12, 2018

The outpouring of support inspired her husband - known as Singe - to write a best-selling book.

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2016

Mum's List, which also stars Rafe Spall as Singe, was written and directed by fellow Clevedon resident Niall Johnson - a dad the Greenes met on the school run.

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2016

Her teacup monkey, Singe, starts to stamp his feet and reach his paw through the cage bars.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton