SCORCH

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does scorch mean? 

• SCORCH (noun)
  The noun SCORCH has 3 senses:

1. a surface burn

2. a plant disease that produces a browning or scorched appearance of plant tissues

3. a discoloration caused by heat

  Familiarity information: SCORCH used as a noun is uncommon.

• SCORCH (verb)
  The verb SCORCH has 5 senses:

1. make very hot and dry

2. become superficially burned

3. destroy completely by or as if by fire

4. burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color

5. become scorched or singed under intense heat or dry conditions

  Familiarity information: SCORCH used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SCORCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A surface burn

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

scorch; singe

Hypernyms ("scorch" is a kind of...):

burn (an injury caused by exposure to heat or chemicals or radiation)

Derivation:

scorch (make very hot and dry)

scorch (burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color)

scorch (destroy completely by or as if by fire)

scorch (become superficially burned)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A plant disease that produces a browning or scorched appearance of plant tissues

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("scorch" is a kind of...):

plant disease (a disease that affects plants)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "scorch"):

leaf scorch (plant disease causing a burned or scorched appearance of the foliage)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A discoloration caused by heat

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("scorch" is a kind of...):

discoloration; discolouration; stain (a soiled or discolored appearance)

Derivation:

scorch (make very hot and dry)

• SCORCH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they scorch    ... he / she / it scorches   
Past simple: scorched   
Past participle: scorched   
-ing form: scorching   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make very hot and dry

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

scorch; sear

Context example:

The heat scorched the countryside

Hypernyms (to "scorch" is one way to...):

heat; heat up (make hot or hotter)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "scorch"):

sizzle (burn or sear with a sizzling sound)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

scorch (a discoloration caused by heat)

scorch (a surface burn)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become superficially burned

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

scorch; sear; singe

Context example:

my eyebrows singed when I bent over the flames

Hypernyms (to "scorch" is one way to...):

burn; combust (undergo combustion)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

scorch (a surface burn)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Destroy completely by or as if by fire

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

the invaders scorched the land

Hypernyms (to "scorch" is one way to...):

burn; burn down; fire (destroy by fire)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

scorch (a surface burn)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

blacken; char; scorch; sear

Context example:

the flames scorched the ceiling

Hypernyms (to "scorch" is one way to...):

burn (damage by burning with heat, fire, or radiation)

Domain category:

cookery; cooking; preparation (the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "scorch"):

singe; swinge (burn superficially or lightly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

scorch (a surface burn)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Become scorched or singed under intense heat or dry conditions

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The exposed tree scorched in the hot sun

Hypernyms (to "scorch" is one way to...):

dry; dry out (become dry or drier)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

 Context examples 

The scorching torrent was enough to wither the face of the corpse.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The soles which you are at this moment presenting to me are slightly scorched.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I passed my finger over his eyebrows, and remarked that they were scorched, and that I would apply something which would make them grow as broad and black as ever.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Its day-side temperature is a scorching 1,430 degrees Fahrenheit (776.7 degrees Celsius).

(NASA Finds a Large Amount of Water in an Exoplanet's Atmosphere, NASA)

A hasty drawing back always resulted, accompanied by angry yelps and frightened snarls when a well-aimed brand struck and scorched a too daring animal.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

But of course you have scorched them already.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Scorching temperatures, low precipitation, strong sunlight and low wind speeds allow heat and poor-quality air to stagnate in a given location for an extended period of time.

(Dangers of Concurrent Heat Waves, Air Pollution, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Imagine a place where the weather forecast is always the same: scorching temperatures, relentlessly sunny, and with absolutely zero chance of rain.

(Water Is Destroyed, Then Reborn in Ultrahot Jupiters, NASA/JPL)

He was all but naked, a ragged and fire-scorched skin hanging part way down his back, but on his body there was much hair.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Her banner is planted on ice. Her banner is scorched in the sun.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)