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burn¹ Definition

burn (bʉrn)

transitive verb burned or burnt, 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

burn¹ 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

burn Synonyms

burn

n.

blister, scorch, scald, wound, impairment, trauma, first-degree burn, second-degree burn, third-degree burn, sunburn, windburn, reddening; see also blister, injury 1.

burn Synonyms

burn

v.

  1. To oxidize

    be on fire, catch on fire, consume, combust, burn up, burn down, incinerate, rage, blaze, flame, flash, glow, burn fiercely, flare, blaze up, flame up, flare up, burst into flame, grow bright, turn to ashes, smolder, smoke.

  2. To subject to fire

    set on fire, ignite, light, kindle, incinerate, enkindle, cremate, relight, conflagrate, consume with flames, rekindle, reduce to ashes, set a match to, set ablaze, set afire, torch, sear, singe, scorch, brand, char, cauterize, roast, toast, heat, bake, brown, blacken, overcook, carbonize, fire, consign to the flame; see also cook.

    Antonyms extinguish*, put out*, quench. *

  3. To feel emotion suggestive of fire

    tingle, lust, desire, yearn, thirst, be excited, be inflamed, be aroused, be stirred up, breathe fire and fury*; see also rage 1.

  4. To feel or cause to feel a burning sensation

    smart, sting, bite, throb; see hurt 1, 4.

  5. *To cheat

    swindle, defraud, trick, rob; see deceive.

  6. To scorch

    char, sear, roast, toast, parch, bake, singe, scald, wither; see also sense 2.

burn is the broadest term in this comparison, denoting injury to any extent by fire or something with the effect of fire, as intense heat, friction, or acid a burnt log, sunburned, windburned; scorch and singe both imply superficial burning, scorch emphasizing discoloration or damaging of texture to scorch a shirt in ironing, and singe, the burning off, often intentional, of bristles, feathers, the ends of hair, etc.; sear implies the burning of animal tissue and is applied specifically to the quick browning of the outside of meat in cooking to seal in the juices to sear a roast; char implies a reduction by burning to charcoal or carbon: all of these terms have figurative applications a burning desire, a scorching tirade, a singed reputation, a soul-searing experience, charred hopes

burn Usage Examples

Object

  • calorie: Top 10 easy ways to cut calories There are two ways to lose weight burn more calories or eat less of them.
  • incense: Then the Priest came along and burned incense in front of them with all the people kneeling on the ground.
  • fuel: Carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels are the single biggest contributor.
  • candle: Gamache's work is a textbook of instructions on " how to burn candles for every purpose " .
  • coal: No holidays abroad, no carpets on the floor, we burned coal on the fire, no locks on the door.
  • effigy: Shall I burn some cultural/religious effigy to make you feel better?

Preposition: on

  • pyre: Much wealth literally went up in smoke with many precious items burnt on the pyres.
  • bonfire: Cut up felled wood with bow saws, clear regenerating trees with loppers and burn on a bonfire plus create habitat piles.

Preposition: at

stake: During the next three years over 300 heretics were burned at the stake earning her the title " bloody Mary " .

Preposition: as

heretic: He was silent when women were drowned as witches, and honest people were burned as heretics.

Adjective modifier

  • superficial: One man suffered superficial burns, rather than almost certain death had he still been holding the spike.
  • severe: The result can be severe burns or in some cases, fatalities.

Adjective complement

  • alive: She and her three maids were seized while visiting the tomb of St Afra and burnt alive.
  • fat: Here are some tips to help you burn more fat.

Noun used with modifier

third-degree: Seventy-two soldiers of the East India Company die as a result of methane poisoning and third-degree ammonia burns.

Particle object:

chaff: He shall gather his wheat into his garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Particle object:

calorie: You will burn off far more calories walking up the stairs rather than standing in a lift.

Preposition: in

hell: Either way, it is those that applauded Bush's ridiculous speech are the real evil, may they all burn in hell.

Preposition: with

flame: They burn with a brilliant clear flame, without black smoke.

Followed by an intransitive particle

down: In January her house in Kingston was burned down.

Browse dictionary entries near burn

  1. ‹ Burmese
  2. ‹ Burma
  3. ‹ burly
  4. ‹ Burlington
  5. ‹ burley
  6. ‹ burlesque
  7. ‹ Burleigh
  8. ‹ burlap
  9. ‹ burl
  10. ‹ Burkitt's lymphoma
  1. burn rate ›
  2. burnable ›
  3. Burnaby ›
  4. Burne-Jones ›
  5. burned ›
  6. burned up ›
  7. burner ›
  8. burnet ›
  9. Burnett ›
  10. Burney ›