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burn1 definition

burn (bʉrn)

transitive verb burned or burnt, burning burn′·ing

  1. to set on fire or subject to combustion, as in order to produce heat, light, or power
  2. to destroy by fire
  3. to put to death by fire
  4. to injure or damage by fire or something with the effect of fire, as intense heat, friction, or acid; scorch, singe, scald, etc.
  5. to consume as fuel to burn much gasoline
  6. to transform (body fat, etc.) into energy by metabolism
  7. to sunburn
  8. to brand
  9. to cauterize
  10. to harden or glaze (bricks, pottery, etc.) by fire; fire
  11. to cause by fire, heat, etc. to burn a hole in a coat
  12. to cause a sensation of heat in the horseradish burns the throat
  13. to use (candles, lights, heaters, etc.)
  14. Comput., Informal to copy (data, a digital sound file, etc.) onto (a compact disc) by means of a laser
  15. Slang to electrocute
  16. Slang
    1. to cheat, swindle, or rob
    2. to cause to suffer through misplaced trust or confidence: usually used in the passive

Etymology: ME brennen, bernen, burnen < ON & OE: ON brenna, to burn, light; OE bærnan, to kindle (akin to Goth brannjan, to cause to burn) & beornan, to be on fire, metathetic < Gmc *brinnan < IE *bhre-n-u- < base *bhereu-, to boil forth, well up > bourn, bread, L fervere, Welsh brydis, to boil

intransitive verb

  1. to be on fire; flame; blaze
  2. to undergo combustion
  3. to give out light or heat; shine; glow
  4. to be destroyed by fire or heat
  5. to be injured or damaged by or as by fire or heat; become scorched, singed, etc.
  6. to die by fire
  7. to feel hot
  8. to be excited or inflamed, as with desire, anger, etc.
  9. Slang to be electrocuted

noun

  1. an injury or damage caused by fire, heat, radiation, wind, caustics, etc.: in medicine, burns are classified as first-degree burn, reddening, second-degree burn, blistering, and third-degree burn, destruction of the skin and the tissues under it
  2. the process or result of burning, as in brick making
  3. ☆ a single firing of a rocket or thruster on a space vehicle
burn Idioms

burn down

to burn to the ground

burn in

to darken (certain areas on a print produced from a photographic negative) by exposing them to more light

burn out

  1. to cease burning through lack of fuel
  2. to disintegrate or wear out by heat from friction, etc.
  3. to destroy the home, business, etc. of by fire
  4. to exhaust (oneself) or become exhausted from overwork, stress, or dissipation

burn up

  1. to burn completely
  2. Slang to make or become angry

to burn

Informal in excess money to burn
burn2 definition

burn (bʉrn)

noun

Scot. a brook

Etymology: ME burne, bourn

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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