verb / noun
sear
SEER/sɪr/
To burn a surface through intense heat.
The torch sears the steak's surface into a dark-brown crust.
Etymology
Searian described plants drying up or withering. The meaning developed into causing dryness and burning with a hot iron, connecting with the modern sense of scorching a surface.
In context
The key to the salmon is to just sear the outside so you make a really crisp crust and then it seals in all the flavor.
More examples
- Sear the steak in a hot skillet for two minutes.
- The tuna has a dark sear on each side.
- His cruel words are seared into her memory.
Forms
sear · sears · seared · searing
Similar words
- scorch
- Emphasizes surface burning or discoloration, often without deeper damage.
- char
- Means burning something until it blackens or becomes carbon.