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definitions

scald

1
[skawld]
See more synonyms for scald on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to burn or affect painfully with or as if with hot liquid or steam.
  2. to subject to the action of boiling or hot liquid.
  3. to heat to a temperature just short of the boiling point: to scald milk.
  4. to parboil or blanch (fruit, vegetables, etc.).
verb (used without object)
  1. to be or become scalded.
noun
  1. a burn caused by the action of hot liquid or steam.
  2. any similar condition, especially as the result of too much heat or sunlight.
  3. Plant Pathology.
    1. a blanching of the epidermis and adjacent tissues, which turn pale or dark brown, caused by extreme heat or sun exposure.
    2. a condition resembling scald caused by improper conditions of growth or storage, as in apples, or by fungi, as in cranberries.

Origin of scald

1
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for scalding

blistering, scorching, searing, blazing, sizzling, boiling, sweltering, incandescent, piping, baking, burning, steaming, flaming, warm, roasting, heated, close, broiling, white

Examples from the Web for scalding

Contemporary Examples of scalding

Historical Examples of scalding

British Dictionary definitions for scalding

scald

1
verb
  1. to burn or be burnt with or as if with hot liquid or steam
  2. (tr) to subject to the action of boiling water, esp so as to sterilize
  3. (tr) to heat (a liquid) almost to boiling point
  4. (tr) to plunge (tomatoes, peaches, etc) into boiling water briefly in order to skin them more easily
noun
  1. the act or result of scalding
  2. 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

scald

2
noun
  1. a variant spelling of skald

scald

3
adjective Also: scalled
  1. scabby
noun
  1. 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
Word Origin and History for scalding
adj.

early 13c., present participle adjective from scald (v.)). Scalding hot recorded from late 14c.

scald

v.

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
scalding in Medicine

scald

[skôld]
v.
  1. To burn with a hot liquid or steam.
n.
  1. A body injury caused by scalding.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.