scald

[ skawld ]

/ skɔld /

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See synonyms for: scald / scalded / scalding 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.

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Origin of scald

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

OTHER WORDS FROM scald

non·scald·ing, adjectiveun·scald·ed, adjectiveun·scald·ing, adjective

Words nearby scald

scalar multiplication, scalar product, scalar triple product, scalation, scalawag, scald, scald-crow, scaldfish, scale, scale back, scaleboard

Other definitions for scald (2 of 2)

scald²

[ skawld ]

/ skɔld /

Archaic.

adjective

Also scalled . scabby; covered with scurf.

noun

a scab.

Origin of scald

First recorded in 1490–1500; scall + -ed³

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use scald in a sentence

To loosen their feathers, chicken carcasses are dunked into a tank of scalding water.
America’s Food Safety System Failed to Stop a Salmonella Epidemic. It’s Still Making People Sick.|by Bernice Yeung, Michael Grabell, Irena Hwang and Mollie Simon|October 29, 2021|ProPublica
After extensive modeling, they have found that the atmospheric pressures on some of these planets could allow hot-but-not-scalding oceans to persist for billions of years.
‘Hycean’ exoplanets could be home to the alien life we’ve been searching for|Charlie Wood|August 26, 2021|Popular-Science
They can go years without food or water, withstand freezing and scalding temperatures and endure blistering radiation and the vacuum of outer space.
Even hard-to-kill tardigrades can’t always survive being shot out of a gun|Maria Temming|June 2, 2021|Science News
After those lies inspired the violent assault on the Capitol, Hawley took scalding criticism, which he has now tossed into the Right-Wing Media Victimization Machine, magically converting it into an effort to “cancel” him.
Josh Hawley’s ugly rant unmasks the fraudulence of the anti-‘wokeness’ crusade|Greg Sargent|April 9, 2021|Washington Post

Court records suggest that Moore had once scalded Antaramian with hot water, sold herself as the trustee of the victim’s estate and isolated her from friends.
Why One Woman Has Spent 5 Years in a San Diego County Jail With No Trial|Jesse Marx|April 8, 2021|Voice of San Diego
His duty it was to stand at the head of the scalding trough, watch in hand, to "time" the length of the scald, crying "Hog in!"
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
"Washes himself as if he's afraid the water'd scald him," said the Deacon, watching the negro's awkward efforts.
Si Klegg, Book 2 (of 6)|John McElroy
“'And you will be sure to scald your fingers and get the worst of it,'” Puddy went on relentlessly.
The Gentle Art of Cooking Wives|Elizabeth Strong Worthington
Take a quart of milk; heat one third and scald with it a half-pint of flour; if skimmed milk, use a small piece of butter.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 97, November, 1865|Various
Either they didn't scald the meal or they didn't heat the oven,—what in one hand was light beaten gold in another became lead.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 97, November, 1865|Various

British Dictionary definitions for scald (1 of 3)

scald¹

/ (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 forms of scald

scalder, 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 3)

scald²

/ (skɔːld) /

noun

a variant spelling of skald

British Dictionary definitions for scald (3 of 3)

scald³

/ (skɔːld) obsolete /

adjective Also: scalled

scabby

noun

a scab or a skin disease producing scabs

Word Origin for scald

C16: from scall

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

scald

Origin of scald

OTHER WORDS FROM scald

Words nearby scald

Other definitions for scald (2 of 2)

Origin of scald

Words related to scald

How to use scald in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for scald (1 of 3)

Derived forms of scald

Word Origin for scald

British Dictionary definitions for scald (2 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for scald (3 of 3)

Word Origin for scald