burning

American  

[bur-ning] / ˈbɜr nɪŋ /

adjective

1. aflame; on fire.

2. very hot; simmering.

   The water was burning.

3. very bright; glowing.

   She wore a burning red bathing suit.

4. caused by or as if by fire, a burn, or heat.

   He had a burning sensation in his throat.

5. intense; passionate.

   a burning desire.

6. urgent or crucial.

   a burning question.

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noun

1. the state, process, sensation, or effect of being on fire, burned, burn, or subjected to intense heat.

2. the baking of ceramic products to develop hardness and other properties.

3. the heating or the calcining of certain ores and rocks as a preliminary stage in various industrial processes.

burning British  

/ ˈbɜːnɪŋ /

adjective

1. intense; passionate

2. urgent; crucial

   a burning problem

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noun

1. a form of heat treatment used to harden and finish ceramic materials or to prepare certain ores for further treatment by calcination

2. overheating of an alloy during heat treatment in which local fusion or excessive oxide formation and penetration occur, weakening the alloy

3. the heat treatment of particular kinds of gemstones to change their colour

Other Word Forms

• burningly adverb
• nonburning adjective
• unburning adjective

Etymology

Origin of burning

First recorded before 1000; Middle English brenning, Old English byrnende; burn ¹, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Sure enough, I had a fever that left me shaking one minute and burning up the next.

From Literature

When the candles were burning brightly, the lanterns were launched on the Ohta River.

From Literature

Jeremy closed his "beautiful" eyes, his face so hot that even the tips of his ears were burning.

From Literature

He did have one burning question, however, that he simply could not hold in.

From Literature

Then I felt Togbe’s hand under me and came up spluttering, nose and throat burning.

From Literature

Related Words

• fiery
• flaming
• gleaming
• glowing
• hot
• scorching
• searing