rhizoverbBeta
DictionarysingeSurface burning
verb / noun

singe

SINJ/sɪndʒ/

To burn slightly on the surface, or a mark left by such burning.

The candle singes the napkin's corner.

A white cotton napkin hangs over a plate beside a low candle; the small flame just touches its corner, leaving only a narrow brown-black fringe while the rest of the cloth remains intact.
Etymology
singeOld Englishto burn lightly or superficially

Old English sengan already meant burning only the surface or edges, as with hair or wings. The modern sense preserves that limited kind of burning.

In context

Libranima350:09
did they butcher and cut up; many a tusked boar moreover, fat and well- fed, did they singe and set to roast in the flames of Vulcan
The Iliad - Homer (Illustrated Audiobook) Part 2 of 2

More examples

  • He had singed eyebrows after opening the oven too quickly.
  • A small singe marked the curtain's hem.
  • The flame was singeing the paper without setting it fully alight.

Forms

singe · singes · singed · singeing

Similar words

burn
Burn is general; singe means scorch lightly at the surface or edges.
char
Char involves more extensive blackening; singe can affect only hairs or a thin edge.