singe

American  

[sinj] / sɪndʒ /

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.

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noun

1. a superficial burn.

2. the act of singeing.

singe British  

/ 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

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noun

1. a superficial burn

Related Words

See burn ¹.

Other Word Forms

• singeingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of singe

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

Example Sentences

The Dragon howled with rage and spat a wall of flame that singed Rowan's hair and eyebrows.

From Literature

It was a fireball, an explosion of blue-red, and the heat of it singed the tips of his hair and scorched his eyes, so that both he and Mal had to cover their faces.

From Literature

Besides some singed horse hair, he seemed all right.

From Literature

I rear back, but my fur is singed.

From Literature

Hall wants to do with the chimneys what Hill did by framing those singed pieces of music — to create a work of art born from disaster that symbolizes the will to carry on.

From Los Angeles Times