singe

[sinj]

verb (used with object)

singed, singeing 

1. to burn superficially or slightly; scorch.

   Synonyms: char

2. to burn the ends, projections, nap, or the like, of (hair, cloth, etc.).

3. to subject (the carcass of an animal or bird) to flame in order to remove hair, bristles, feathers, etc.

noun

1. a superficial burn.

2. the act of singeing.

singe

/ sɪndʒ /

verb

1. to burn or be burnt superficially; scorch

   to singe one's clothes

2. (tr) to burn the ends of (hair, etc)

3. (tr) to expose (a carcass) to flame to remove bristles or hair

noun

1. a superficial burn

Other Word Forms

• singeingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of singe¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English sengen (verb), Old English sencgan; cognate with Dutch zengen, German sengen; akin to Old Norse sangr “singed, burnt”

Word History and Origins

Origin of singe¹

Old English sengan; related to Middle High German sengen to singe, Dutch sengel spark, Norwegian sengla to smell of burning, Swedish sjängla to singe, Icelandic sāngr

Synonym Study

See burn ¹.

Example Sentences

Ms Moore said she heard her daughter screaming for help, but when the door was removed they were prevented from reaching her by fierce smoke and flames, which singed her hair.

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A flaming splinter from the burning plane had struck his backpack, singed his trousers and scorched his hand.

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He walked down a side street, pointing out the singed remains of houses that he said were torched by Bedouins and government-linked fighters.

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The fried chicken is typically coated in a mixture of cayenne and paprika that singes the tongue.

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Where the aged tree’s limbs once exploded into violet, singed branches crisscrossed in colorless sterility like an unfinished painting.

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