Main Entry: ¹scorch

Pronunciation: \ˈskȯrch\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English; probably akin to Middle English scorcnen to become singed, scorklen to parch

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : to burn a surface of so as to change its color and texture
2 a : to dry or shrivel with or as if with intense heat : parch b : to afflict painfully with censure or sarcasm
3 : devastate; especially : to destroy (as property of possible use to an advancing enemy) before abandoning —used in the phrase scorched earthintransitive verb 1 : to become scorched
2 : to travel at great and usually excessive speed
3 : to cause intense heat or mental anguish <scorching sun> <scorching fury>

— scorch·ing·ly \ˈskȯr-chiŋ-lē\ adverb