Explore M-W
Origin and Etymology of burn
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German brunno spring of water
Definition of burn
burned
play \ˈbərnd, ˈbərnt\ orburnt
play \ˈbərnt\;burning
intransitive verb
1a : to consume fuel and give off heat, light, and gases a small fire burns on the hearthb : to undergo combustion; also : to undergo nuclear fission or nuclear fusionc : to contain a fire a little stove burning in the cornerd : to give off light : shine, glow a light burning in the window
2a : to be hot the burning sandb : to produce or undergo discomfort or pain ears burning from the coldc : to become emotionally excited or agitated: such as (1) : to yearn ardently burning to tell the story (2) : to be or become very angry or disgusted the remark made him burn
3a : to undergo alteration or destruction by the action of fire or heat the house burned down the potatoes burned to a crispb : to die in the electric chair
4 : 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 verb
1a : to cause to undergo combustion; especially : to destroy by fire burned the trashb : to use as fuel this furnace burns gasc : to use up : consume burn calories
2a : to transform by exposure to heat or fire burn clay to bricksb : to produce by burning burned a hole in his sleevec : 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
3a : to injure or damage by or as if by exposure to fire, heat, or radiation : scorch burned his handb : to execute by burning burned heretics at the stake; also : electrocute
burn one's bridges
or less commonlyburn one's boats
burn one's ears
burn the candle at both ends
burn the midnight oil
Examples of burn in a Sentence
A flame is kept constantly burning at the monument.
A small fire burned brightly in the fireplace.
There was a little stove burning in the front room.
I could smell smoke and knew that something was burning.
Be sure not to leave any candles burning when you go to bed.
I burned the letter when I had finished reading it.
The new town law makes it illegal to burn trash.
The wildfire has burned acres of forest.
Parts of the house were badly burned in the fire.
a material that burns easily
Origin and Etymology of burn
Middle English birnen, from Old English byrnan, intransitive verb, bærnan, transitive verb; akin to Old High German brinnan to burn
burn
Definition of burn
1 : an act, process, instance, or result of burning: such asa : injury or damage resulting from exposure to fire, heat, caustics, electricity, or certain radiationsb : a burned area a burn on the tabletopc : an abrasion (as of the skin) having the appearance of a burn rope burnsd : a burning sensation the burn of iodine on a cut
2 : the firing of a rocket engine in flight
3 : anger; especially : increasing fury —used chiefly in the phrase slow burn
First Known Use of burn
1594
BURN Defined for English Language Learners
burn
playDefinition of burn for English Language Learners
-
of a fire or flame : to give off heat, light, and gases
-
: to contain a fire
-
: to be on fire : to have or produce a flame
BURN Defined for Kids
Definition of burn for Students
burned
\ˈbərnd\ orburnt
\ˈbərnt\;burning
1 : to be on fire or to set on fire a candle burning
2 : to destroy or be destroyed by fire or heat The building burned to the ground.
3 : to make or produce by fire or heat Sparks burned a hole in my shirt.
4 : to give light lanterns burning
5 : to injure or affect by or as if by fire or heat I burned my finger. The hot peppers burned my throat.
6 : to ruin by cooking too long or with too much heat
7 : to feel or cause to feel as if on fire burning with fever
8 : to feel a strong emotion burn with anger
Definition of burn for Students
: an injury produced by burning or by something rubbing away the skin a rope burn
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of burn
burned
\ˈbərnd, ˈbərnt\play play orburnt
\ˈbərnt\play ;burning
1
intransitive verb
: to produce or undergo discomfort or pain iodine burns so ears burning from the cold2: to become reddened or irritated by or as if by exposure to sun or wind she burns easily
1
transitive verb
: to injure or damage by exposure to fire, heat, or radiation burned his hand2: to break down and use as a source of energy burn calories during exercise
burn
Medical Definition of burn
1: bodily injury resulting from exposure to heat, caustics, electricity, or some radiations, marked by varying degrees of skin destruction and hyperemia often with the formation of watery blisters and in severe cases by charring of the tissues, and classified according to the extent and degree of the injury—see first-degree burn, second-degree burn, third-degree burn
2: an abrasion having the appearance of a burn friction burns cold burn
3: a burning sensation the burn of iodine applied to a cut
Learn More about burn
-
See words that rhyme with burn Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for burn Spanish Central: Translation of burn Nglish: Translation of burn for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of burn for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about burn
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up burn? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!