scald
Scald is defined as to burn with hot steam or liquid, to heat liquid almost to the point of boiling, or to harshly criticize.
(verb)An example of scald is to pour boiling water on your hand.
The definition of a scald is an injury caused by burning with hot steam or liquid.
(noun)An example of a scald is a wound from the steam of a tea kettle.
See scald in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb
- to burn or injure with hot liquid or steam
- to heat almost to the boiling point
- to use boiling liquid on; specif.,
- to sterilize by the use of boiling liquid
- to loosen the skin of (fruit, etc.), the feathers of (poultry), or the like, by the use of boiling water
Origin: ME scalden < NormFr escalder, for OFr eschalder < LL excaldare, to wash in warm water < L ex-, intens. + calidus, hot, akin to calere, to be warm: see calorie
intransitive verb
noun
- a burn or injury caused by scalding
- the act or an instance of scalding
- sunscald
noun
Related Forms:
- scaldic adjective
See scald in American Heritage Dictionary 4
verb scald·ed, scald·ing, scalds verb, transitive
- To burn with or as if with hot liquid or steam.
- To subject to or treat with boiling water: scalded the hide to remove the hair; scalded and peeled the tomatoes.
- To heat (a liquid, such as milk) almost to the boiling point.
- To criticize harshly; excoriate.
- A body injury caused by scalding.
- Botany a. A superficial discoloration on fruit, vegetables, leaves, or tree trunks caused by sudden exposure to intense sunlight or the action of gases.b. A disease of some cereal grasses caused by a fungus of the genus Rhynchosporium.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English scalden
Origin: , from Old North French escalder
Origin: , from Late Latin excaldāre, to wash in hot water
Origin: : Latin ex-, ex-
Origin: + Latin calidus, caldus, warm, hot; see kelə-1 in Indo-European roots
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