Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for sear on Thesaurus.com to burn or char the surface of: She seared the steak to seal in the juices. to mark with a branding iron. to burn or scorch injuriously or painfully: He seared his hand on a hot steam pipe. to make callous or unfeeling; harden: The hardship of her youth has seared her emotionally. to dry up or wither; parch. Show More
verb (used without object) to become dry or withered, as vegetation. Show More
a mark or scar made by searing. Show More
Origin of sear 1 before 900; (adj.) Middle English sere, Old English sēar; cognate with Dutch zoor; (v.) Middle English seren, Old English sēarian, derivative of sēar
Related forms un·seared , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for seared toast ,
blight ,
sizzle ,
scorch ,
brown ,
dehydrate ,
wilt ,
brand ,
parch ,
cauterize ,
harden ,
cook ,
wither ,
exsiccate ,
seal ,
desiccate ,
tan ,
shrivel Examples from the Web for seared Contemporary Examples of seared It will, however, be a memory that is seared in the brains of Britons for years to come.
Our citizens, seared by the memory of those we have lost, know too well the price that is paid for liberty.
I had an intimate encounter with just such a seared ego, recently burned by his once-trusted chronicler.
More lamb is seared over burning coals and the wine keeps flowing.
For cookbook author Deborah Krasner the best way to have a burger for dinner is without a bun and seared in salt.
Historical Examples of seared Some scenes have been so seared into my brain that I can never forget them.
Unless something happened, and that quickly, they would be seared to a crisp.
They seared her very soul, and she began to know the meaning of shame.
His face looked grey and haggard; the lines that seared it were lines of pain.
A wave of Mercurians surged in, to be seared into nothingness by his weapon.
British Dictionary definitions for seared to scorch or burn the surface of to brand with a hot iron to cause to wither or dry up rare to make callous or unfeeling Show More
Word Origin for sear Old English sēarian to become withered, from sēar withered; related to Old High German sōrēn, Greek hauos dry, Sanskrit sōsa drought
the catch in the lock of a small firearm that holds the hammer or firing pin cocked Show More
Word Origin for sear C16: probably from Old French serre a clasp, from serrer to hold firmly, from Late Latin sērāre to bolt, from Latin sera a bar
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for seared v. Old English searian (intransitive) "dry up, to wither," from Proto-Germanic *saurajan (cf. Middle Dutch soor "dry," Old High German soren "become dry"), from root of sear "dried up, withered" (see sere ). Meaning "cause to wither" is from early 15c. Meaning "to brand, to burn by hot iron" is recorded from c.1400, originally especially of cauterizing wounds; figurative use is from 1580s. Related: Seared ; searing .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
