scorch
verb/skɔːtʃ/
/skɔːrtʃ/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they scorch | /skɔːtʃ/ /skɔːrtʃ/ |
| he / she / it scorches | /ˈskɔːtʃɪz/ /ˈskɔːrtʃɪz/ |
| past simple scorched | /skɔːtʃt/ /skɔːrtʃt/ |
| past participle scorched | /skɔːtʃt/ /skɔːrtʃt/ |
| -ing form scorching | /ˈskɔːtʃɪŋ/ /ˈskɔːrtʃɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] to burn and slightly damage a surface by making it too hot; to be slightly burned by heat
- scorch (something) I scorched my dress when I was ironing it.
- Don't stand so near the fire—your coat is scorching!
- scorch something + adj. The buildings around us were scorched black by the fire.
Synonyms burnburnchar ▪ 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.
- The bodies had been charred beyond recognition.
- I scorched my dress when I was ironing it.
- He singed his hair as he tried to light the candle.
- to burn/scald yourself/your hand
- to burn/scorch/singe your hair/clothes
- burnt-out/charred/scorched remains/ruins/buildings
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- [transitive, intransitive] scorch (something) to become or to make something become dry and brown, especially from the heat of the sun or from chemicals
- scorched grass
- The leaves will scorch if you water them in the sun.
- Wildfires have scorched over two million acres of forest.
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. (British English, informal) to move very fast
- The car scorched off down the road.
- She scorched to victory in the sprint final.
Word OriginMiddle English (as a verb): perhaps related to Old Norse skorpna ‘be shrivelled’.
Check pronunciation:
scorch