scorch

[skawrch]

verb (used with object)

1. to affect the color, taste, etc., of by burning slightly.

   The collar of the shirt was yellow where the iron had scorched it.

   Synonyms: blister, char

2. to parch or shrivel with heat.

   The sun scorched the grass.

3. to criticize severely.

   Synonyms: condemn, excoriate
   Antonyms: laud

4. Machinery.,  burn.

5. to destroy (crops, towns, etc.) by or as if by fire in the path of an invading army's advance.

verb (used without object)

1. to become scorched.

   Milk scorches easily.

2. Informal.,  to travel or drive at high speed.

   The car scorched along the highway.

noun

1. a superficial burn.

scorch

/ skɔːtʃ /

verb

1. to burn or become burnt, so as to affect the colour, taste, etc, or to cause or feel pain

2. to wither or parch or cause to wither from exposure to heat

3. informal,  (intr) to be very hot

   it is scorching outside

4. informal,  (tr) to criticize harshly

5. slang,  (intr) to drive or ride very fast

noun

1. a slight burn

2. a mark caused by the application of too great heat

3. horticulture a mark or series of marks on fruit, vegetables, etc, caused by pests or insecticides

Other Word Forms

• unscorched adjective
• well-scorched adjective
• scorching adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scorch¹

1400–50; late Middle English scorchen, perhaps blend of scorcnen (< Scandinavian; compare Old Norse skorpna to shrivel) and torch ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of scorch¹

C15: probably from Old Norse skorpna to shrivel up

Synonym Study

See burn ¹.

Example Sentences

Playing in the desert during the scorching summer months had been a tough sell.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

This summer has been one of the stickiest ever across the East Coast, according to a new metric, and with scorching temperatures this week, it isn’t done yet.

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The scorch marks from the fighting that day still mar the walls, and the underbrush of bullet-shattered tiles crackles with Messika’s every step.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The only girl on the pitch, she would scorch past once-scornful boys.

Read more on BBC

The air-conditioning - built for Russian winters - was barely adequate in scorching Indian summers.

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Related Words

• bake 
• blacken 
• char 
• melt 
• parch 
• sear