burning

[bur-ning]

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.

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

/ ˈbɜːnɪŋ /

adjective

1. intense; passionate

2. urgent; crucial

   a burning problem

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of burning¹

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

Example Sentences

“For people I’ve talked to who lost their homes, fire front versus ember cast mean nothing other than there was fire in their community, in their neighborhood, burning down homes,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Then, in August 2020, lightning sparked a series of fires in the area, including one that began burning in a river canyon on U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Before the fire, insurance in Coffey Park was more affordable because the neighborhood was considered at lower risk of burning.

From Los Angeles Times

Typically, the smoke from the vegetation burning is simply released into the air.

From Los Angeles Times

"If you think you might be burning out, you're already on your way there," says Andrew Tillman, former head of cyber risk and assurance for the UK's Health Security Agency.

From BBC

Related Words

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