sear

¹

[seer]

verb (used with object)

1. to burn or char the surface of.

   She seared the steak to seal in the juices.

2. to mark with a branding iron.

3. to burn or scorch injuriously or painfully.

   He seared his hand on a hot steam pipe.

4. to harden or scar emotionally.

   The traumatic experiences of her youth have permanently seared her.

5. to dry up or wither; parch.

verb (used without object)

1. to become dry or withered, as vegetation.

noun

1. a mark or scar made by searing.

adjective

1. sere.

sear

²

[seer]

noun

1. a pivoted piece that holds the hammer at full cock or half cock in the firing mechanism of small arms.

sear

¹

/ sɪə /

verb

1. to scorch or burn the surface of

2. to brand with a hot iron

3. to cause to wither or dry up

4. rare,  to make callous or unfeeling

noun

1. a mark caused by searing

adjective

1. poetic,  dried up

sear

²

/ sɪə /

noun

1. the catch in the lock of a small firearm that holds the hammer or firing pin cocked

Other Word Forms

• unseared adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sear¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective ser(e), Old English sēar; cognate with Dutch zoor; the verb is derivative of the adjective

Origin of sear²

First recorded in 1550–60; from Middle French serre “a grip,” derivative of serrer “to lock up, close,” ultimately from Late Latin serāre “to bar (a door)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of sear¹

Old English sēarian to become withered, from sēar withered; related to Old High German sōrēn, Greek hauos dry, Sanskrit sōsa drought

Origin of sear²

C16: probably from Old French serre a clasp, from serrer to hold firmly, from Late Latin sērāre to bolt, from Latin sera a bar

Synonym Study

See burn ¹.

Example Sentences

An explosive opening day of searing pace saw an astonishing 19 wickets tumble.

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Firefighters halted it quickly at 72 acres, but many trees had already been seared.

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A searing pain erupts in the center of my left palm, disrupting my train of thought.

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For the last decade, Teen Vogue has been an unexpected source of some of the most searing progressive political analysis in American media.

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Yu, who trains in Hebei and juggles swimming with her school work, took up the sport when she was six as a means of escaping China's searing summer heat.

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Related Words

• blight 
• scorch 
• sizzle 
• toast