Main Entry:

²burn

Pronunciation:

\ˈbərn\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

burned \ˈbərnd, ˈbərnt\ or burnt \ˈbərnt\ ; burn·ing

Etymology:

Middle English birnen, from Old English byrnan, v.i., bærnan, v.t.; akin to Old High German brinnan to burn

Date:

before 12th century

intransitive verb1 a: to consume fuel and give off heat, light, and gases <a small fire burns on the hearth> b: to undergo combustion ; also : to undergo nuclear fission or nuclear fusion c: to contain a fire <a little stove burning in the corner> d: to give off light : shine, glow <a light burning in the window>2 a: to be hot <the burning sand> b: to produce or undergo discomfort or pain <ears burning from the cold> c: to become emotionally excited or agitated: as (1): to yearn ardently <burning to tell the story> (2): to be or become very angry or disgusted <the remark made him burn> 3 a: to undergo alteration or destruction by the action of fire or heat <the house burned down> <the potatoes burned to a crisp> b: to die in the electric chair4: to force or make a way by or as if by burning <her words burned into his heart>5: to suffer sunburn <she burns easily>transitive verb1 a: to cause to undergo combustion ; especially : to destroy by fire <burned the trash> b: to use as fuel <this furnace burns gas> c: to use up : consume <burn calories>2 a: to transform by exposure to heat or fire <burn clay to bricks> b: to produce by burning <burned a hole in his sleeve> c: to record digital data or music on (an optical disk) using a laser <burn a CD> ; also : to record (data or music) in this way <burn songs onto a disk>3 a: to injure or damage by or as if by exposure to fire, heat, or radiation : scorch <burned his hand> b: to execute by burning <burned heretics at the stake> ; also : electrocute4 a: irritate, annoy —often used with up<really burns me up> b: to subject to misfortune, mistreatment, or deception —often used in passive <has been burned in love> c: to beat or score on <burned the defense with a touchdown pass>

— burn·able \ˈbər-nə-bəl\ adjective

— burn one's bridges also burn one's boats

: to cut off all means of retreat

— burn one's ears

: to rebuke strongly

— burn the candle at both ends

: to use one's resources or energies to excess

— burn the midnight oil

: to work or study far into the night