Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

scald

verb
Save Word
\ ˈskȯld How to pronounce scald (audio) \
scalded; scalding; scalds

Definition of scald

 (Entry 1 of 5)

transitive verb

1 : to burn with or as if with hot liquid or steam
2a : to subject to the action of boiling water or steam
b : to bring to a temperature just below the boiling point scald milk
3 : scorch

intransitive verb

1 : to scald something
2 : to become scalded

scald

noun (1)

Definition of scald (Entry 2 of 5)

1 : an injury to the body caused by scalding
2 : an act or process of scalding
3 : any of various conditions or diseases of plants or fruits marked especially by a usually brownish discoloration of tissue

scald

adjective (1)

Definition of scald (Entry 3 of 5)

1 archaic : scabby, scurfy
2 archaic : shabby, contemptible

scald

noun (2)

variant spelling of

: an ancient Scandinavian poet broadly : bard

scald

adjective (2)
\ ˈskȯld How to pronounce scald (audio) \

Definition of scald (Entry 5 of 5)

: subjected to scalding coffee … with scald cream— Charles Kingsley

Examples of scald in a Sentence

Verb The steam scalded his skin. Scald the tomatoes in boiling water so that you can peel them more easily.

First Known Use of scald

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (1)

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1791, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for scald

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French *escalder, eschauder, from Late Latin excaldare to wash in warm water, from Latin ex- + calida, calda warm water, from feminine of calidus warm, from calēre to be warm — more at lee

Adjective (1)

scall + -ed entry 1

Adjective (2)

alteration of scalded

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about scald

Time Traveler for scald

Time Traveler

The first known use of scald was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Statistics for scald

Cite this Entry

“Scald.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scald. Accessed 10 December 2019.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for scald

scald

verb
How to pronounce scald (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of scald

: to burn (someone or something) with hot liquid or steam
: to put (something) in hot liquid or steam for a brief time
: to heat (a liquid) until it is very hot but not boiling

See the full definition for scald in the English Language Learners Dictionary

scald

verb
\ ˈskȯld How to pronounce scald (audio) \
scalded; scalding

Kids Definition of scald

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to burn with or as if with hot liquid or steam
2 : to bring to a temperature just below the boiling point scald milk

scald

noun

Kids Definition of scald (Entry 2 of 2)

: an injury caused by burning with hot liquid or steam

scald

transitive verb
\ ˈskȯld How to pronounce scald (audio) \

Medical Definition of scald

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: to burn with hot liquid or steam

scald

noun

Medical Definition of scald (Entry 2 of 2)

: an injury to the body caused by scalding

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on scald

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for scald

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with scald

Spanish Central: Translation of scald

Nglish: Translation of scald for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of scald for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scald

Comments on scald

What made you want to look up scald? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

reiterate

Listen to the pronounciation of reiterate

to state or do over again or repeatedly

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Semantic Drift Quiz

  • a twisty river
  • Which of the following was once a synonym for fun?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games