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Definition of singe verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

singe

verb

/sɪndʒ/

/sɪndʒ/

[transitive, intransitive]

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they singe	/sɪndʒ/ /sɪndʒ/
he / she / it singes	/ˈsɪndʒɪz/ /ˈsɪndʒɪz/
past simple singed	/sɪndʒd/ /sɪndʒd/
past participle singed	/sɪndʒd/ /sɪndʒd/
-ing form singeing	/ˈsɪndʒɪŋ/ /ˈsɪndʒɪŋ/

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singe (something) to burn the surface of something slightly, usually by mistake; to be burnt in this way
- He singed his hair as he tried to light his cigarette.
- the smell of singeing fur
- Sparks burned holes in my shirt and the fire singed my sleeve.
Synonyms burn
burnchar ▪ scald ▪ scorch ▪ singeThese words all mean to damage, injure, destroy or kill somebody/something with heat or fire.
burn to damage, injure, destroy or kill somebody/something 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 bodies had been charred beyond recognition.
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 of something slightly, usually by mistake; to be burnt in this way:
He singed his hair as he tried to light the candle.
scorch or singe?Things are scorched by heat or fire. Things can only be singed by fire or a flame.Patterns
- to burn/scald yourself/your hand
- to burn/scorch/singe your hair/clothes
- burnt-out/charred/scorched remains/ruins/buildings
Word OriginOld English sencgan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch zengen.

See singe in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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