rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryscaldBurn from hot liquid or steam
noun / verb

scald

SKAWLD/skɔːld/

A burn caused by hot liquid or steam, or to cause such a burn.

The spilling hot water scalds his wrist.

An older man recoils as steaming water from a tipped mug spills onto his bare wrist, leaving a small reddened patch.
Etymology
sLatinout
+caldLatinhot

“Hot” is the core image: the ancestral verb meant “bathe in hot water.” English uses it for the painful injury hot liquid or steam can cause.

In context

StardustTV33:35
Once it's boiled, it becomes scalding hot. Pour it down from the city walls. It will scald the enemies
【ENG DUB】Useless noble? He drained a kingdom's treasury with one scam.

More examples

  • Steam scalded his hand.
  • She was careful not to scald herself with the hot liquid.
  • The report described a scald from boiling water.

Forms

scald · scalds · scalded · scalding

Similar words

burn
Burn is the broader injury category; a scald specifically comes from hot liquid or steam.
blister
A blister is one possible result of a scald; scald names the injury or its cause.