scald

[ skawld ]

/ skɔld /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR scald ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

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

to subject to the action of boiling or hot liquid.

to heat to a temperature just short of the boiling point: to scald milk.

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

verb (used without object)

to be or become scalded.

noun

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

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

Plant Pathology.

a blanching of the epidermis and adjacent tissues, which turn pale or dark brown, caused by extreme heat or sun exposure.
a condition resembling scald caused by improper conditions of growth or storage, as in apples, or by fungi, as in cranberries.

Nearby words

Origin of scald

1175–1225; Middle English scalden (v.) < dialectal Old French escalder < Late Latin excaldāre to wash in hot water. See ex-¹, caldarium

Related formsnon·scald·ing, adjectiveun·scald·ed, adjectiveun·scald·ing, adjective

Definition for scald (2 of 4)

scald

[ skawld, skahld ]

/ skɔld, skɑld /

noun

skald.

Definition for scald (3 of 4)

scald

[ skawld ]

/ skɔld /

adjective Archaic.

Also scalled. scabby; scurvy.

noun

a scab.

Origin of scald

First recorded in 1490–1500; scall + -ed³

Definition for scald (4 of 4)

skald

or scald

[ skawld, skahld ]

/ skɔld, skɑld /

noun

one of the ancient Scandinavian poets.

Origin of skald

First recorded in 1755–65, skald is from the Old Norse word skāld poet

Related formsskald·ic, adjectiveskald·ship, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for scald

Scald one quart of milk, with half an onion and a stalk of celery; strain into a pitcher and keep hot if convenient.
Salads, Sandwiches and Chafing-Dish Dainties|Janet McKenzie Hill
If you are forced to give your hens or chickens meal, you must sift it fine and scald it and cool it.
A Complete Edition of the Works of Nancy Luce|Nancy Luce
My mother taught him the songs of the Baltic, and Hilda led his steps through the woodland with tales of hero and scald.
Harold, Complete|Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Put them into a pan, and scald them in boiling water to make the skins come off easily.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches|Eliza Leslie

"I like not such places, my king," the scald answered honestly.
King Olaf's Kinsman|Charles Whistler

British Dictionary definitions for scald (1 of 4)

scald

/ (skɔːld) /

verb

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

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

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

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

noun

the act or result of scalding

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

Derived Formsscalder, noun

Word Origin for scald

C13: via Old Norman French from Late Latin excaldāre to wash in warm water, from calida (aqua) warm (water), from calēre to be warm

British Dictionary definitions for scald (2 of 4)

scald

/ (skɔːld) /

noun

a variant spelling of skald

British Dictionary definitions for scald (3 of 4)

scald

/ (skɔːld) obsolete /

adjective Also: scalled

scabby

noun

a scab or a skin disease producing scabs

Word Origin for scald

C16: from scall

British Dictionary definitions for scald (4 of 4)

skald

scald

/ (skɔːld) /

noun

(in ancient Scandinavia) a bard or minstrel

Derived Formsskaldic or scaldic, adjective

Word Origin for skald

from Old Norse, of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for scald (1 of 2)

scald

c.1200, "to be very hot; to afflict painfully with hot liquid or steam," from Old North French escalder "to scald, to scorch" (Old French eschalder "heat, boil up, bubble," Modern French échauder), from Late Latin excaldare "bathe in hot water" (source also of Spanish escaldar, Italian scaldare "heat with hot water"), from Latin ex- "off" (see ex-) + calidus "hot" (see calorie). Related: Scalded; scalding. The noun is c.1600, from the verb.

Word Origin and History for scald (1 of 2)

skald

"Scandinavian poet and singer of medieval times," 1763, from Old Norse skald "skald, poet" (9c.), of unknown origin, perhaps from PIE root *sekw- (3) "to say, utter." The modern word is an antiquarian revival. "Usually applied to Norwegian and Icelandic poets of the Viking period and down to c 1250, but often without any clear idea as to their function and the character of their work" [OED]. Related: Scaldic.

Medicine definitions for scald

scald

[ skôld ]

v.

To burn with a hot liquid or steam.

n.

A body injury caused by scalding.

scald

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of scald

Definition for scald (2 of 4)

scald

noun

Definition for scald (3 of 4)

scald

adjective Archaic.

noun

Origin of scald

Definition for scald (4 of 4)

skald

or scald

noun

Origin of skald

Examples from the Web for scald

British Dictionary definitions for scald (1 of 4)

scald

verb

noun

Word Origin for scald

British Dictionary definitions for scald (2 of 4)

scald

noun

British Dictionary definitions for scald (3 of 4)

scald

adjective Also: scalled

noun

Word Origin for scald

British Dictionary definitions for scald (4 of 4)

skald

scald

noun

Word Origin for skald

Word Origin and History for scald (1 of 2)

scald

Word Origin and History for scald (1 of 2)

skald

Medicine definitions for scald

scald

v.

n.