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View synonyms for singe

singe

[ sinj ]

verb (used with object)

, singed, singe·ing.
  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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. a superficial burn
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Words From

  • singe·ing·ly adverb
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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”
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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
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Synonym Study

See burn 1.
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Example Sentences

The conflagration in Congress is spreading to singe, if not consume, critical decisions across the board.

So Obama and the Democrats should spend part of next week dispelling the five myths that have the potential to singe.

Remove all the feathers, singe it over the fire, and wipe the chicken with a wet towel.

Should the heel become worn out, apply tar or pitch, and singe with a hot iron.

The sing of I sing is the correspondent of the Anglo-Saxon singe; the infinitive sing, of singan; the imperative sing of sing.

Father Meadow-Mouse would every now and then blow his nose and exclaim, "Well, singe my whiskers and twist my tail!"

The next step in preparing a chicken for cooking, therefore, is to singe it, or burn off these hairs.

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“Sing a Song of Sixpence”singed