scald

1
[ skawld ]
See synonyms for: scaldscaldedscalding 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.

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

  2. 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.

  1. 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.

Origin of scald

1
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, adjective
  • un·scald·ed, adjective
  • un·scald·ing, adjective

Other definitions for scald (2 of 2)

scald2
[ skawld ]

adjective
  1. Also scalled . scabby; covered with scurf.

noun
  1. a scab.

Origin of scald

2
First recorded in 1490–1500; scall + -ed3

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use scald in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for scald (1 of 3)

scald1

/ (skɔːld) /


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

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

  2. (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

Origin of scald

1
C13: via Old Norman French from Late Latin excaldāre to wash in warm water, from calida (aqua) warm (water), from calēre to be warm

Derived forms of scald

  • scalder, noun

British Dictionary definitions for scald (2 of 3)

scald2

/ (skɔːld) /


noun
  1. a variant spelling of skald

British Dictionary definitions for scald (3 of 3)

scald3

/ (skɔːld) obsolete /


adjectiveAlso: scalled
  1. scabby

noun
  1. a scab or a skin disease producing scabs

Origin of scald

3
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