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Definition of singe verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

 

singe

 verb
verb
NAmE//sɪndʒ//
 
[transitive, intransitive] singe (something)Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they singe
 
he / she / it singes
 
past simple singed
 
-ing form singeing
 
 
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to burn the surface of something slightly, usually by mistake; to be burned in this way He singed his hair as he tried to light his cigarette. the smell of singeing fur Thesaurusburn
  • char
  • scald
  • scorch
  • singe
These words all mean to damage, injure, destroy, or kill something or someone with heat or fire.
  • burn to damage, injure, destroy, or kill something or someone with fire, heat, or acid; to be damaged, etc. by fire, heat, or acid:She burned all his letters. The house burned down in 1995.
  • char [usually passive] to make something black by burning it; to become black by burning:The pasta was topped with charred peppers.
  • scald to burn part of your body with very hot liquid or steam
  • scorch to burn and slightly damage a surface by making it too hot:I scorched my dress when I was ironing it.
  • singe to burn the surface or edges of something slightly, usually by mistake; to be burned in this way:He singed his hair as he tried to light his cigarette.
scorch or singe?
  • Things are scorched by either heat or fire. Things can be singed only by fire or a flame.
Patterns
  • to burn/scald yourself/your hand
  • to burn/scorch/singe your hair/clothes
  • burned out/charred/scorched remains/ruins/buildings
See singe in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: singe

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