verb / noun
scorch
SKORCH/skɔːrtʃ/
To burn a surface with heat, or the mark this leaves.
A hot iron scorches the fabric when left in place.
Etymology
Middle English scorchen already described superficial burning: heat damages or discolors the outside without necessarily consuming the object. Its earlier ancestry is uncertain.
In context
… While the sun begins to scorch the grass, it is still cool beneath the tree.
More examples
- I scorched the toast under the broiler.
- The hot pan left a scorch on the countertop.
- Keep the curtains away from the heater to avoid scorching them.
Forms
scorch · scorches · scorched · scorching