scorch

verb (1)

Save Word

\ ˈskȯrch

scorched; scorching; scorches

Definition of scorch

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to burn a surface of so as to change its color and texture

2a : 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 (something, such as property of possible use to an advancing enemy) before abandoning —used in the phrase scorched earth

intransitive 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

noun

Definition of scorch (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : a result of scorching

2 : a browning of plant tissues usually from disease or heat

scorch

verb (2)

scorched; scorching; scorches

Definition of scorch (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

dialectal British

: cut, slash

Other Words from scorch More Example Sentences Phrases Containing scorch Learn More About scorch

Examples of scorch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Ripe fire conditions will once again make headlines this week from California to Texas, as more record-breaking temperatures will scorch the region. — Jennifer Gray, CNN, 23 May 2022 This week will also bring a heat wave that is forecast to scorch much of the southern tier of the nation for the next several days. — Editors, USA TODAY, 17 May 2022 Dangerous fire conditions are creating the perfect fuel for wildfires to scorch through the arid landscapes of the Southwest. — Byjulia Jacobo, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2022 That single would catch fire and scorch its way into the Top 10, peaking at No. 9. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 19 May 2022 Wildfires are continuing to scorch through the Western U.S., fueled by high winds, low humidity and arid landscapes. — Byjulia Jacobo, ABC News, 2 May 2022 Dry ironing is a great way to make your clothes or fabric extra crisp, but finding a trustworthy iron that won't scorch your clothes or melt the tag can be a challenge. — Samantha Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2022 Spider plants will tend to scorch when grown in direct sunlight. — Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 6 Mar. 2022 Dozens of wildfires scorch thousands of acres in Texas. — CNN, 21 Mar. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The grease left a scorch mark on the brick below the drive-thru window. — Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 26 Apr. 2022 Synagogue staff also found scorch marks from recent fires set in front of the doors to the sanctuary. — oregonlive, 7 May 2022 With encouragement from the neighbors the dog eventually made the fearful leap to safety with visible scorch marks on its back. — Caitlin Mcfall, Fox News, 29 Apr. 2022 The maintenance crew at Azusa Pacific will need weeks to scrub away the scorch marks on the track in the wake of Saturday night’s Meet of Champions Distance Classic. — Eric Sondheimercolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2022 Satellite images from Maxar Technologies show scorch marks at a launch pad at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran's rural Semnan province on Sunday. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 4 Mar. 2022 Satellite images from Maxar Technologies seen by The Associated Press show scorch marks at a launch pad at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran’s rural Semnan province on Sunday. — Jon Gambrell, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Mar. 2022 Satellite images from Maxar Technologies seen by The Associated Press show scorch marks at a launch pad at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran's rural Semnan province on Sunday. — Jon Gambrell, ajc, 2 Mar. 2022 Modern technology holds out the promise of a world without error, where every outcome is predictable and assured, where even the amount of scorch at the bottom of the pot can be calculated to the second by a fuzzy-logic rice cooker. — New York Times, 28 Oct. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Ripe fire conditions will once again make headlines this week from California to Texas, as more record-breaking temperatures will scorch the region. — Jennifer Gray, CNN, 23 May 2022 Wildfires are continuing to scorch through the Western U.S., fueled by high winds, low humidity and arid landscapes. — Byjulia Jacobo, ABC News, 2 May 2022 Dangerous fire conditions are creating the perfect fuel for wildfires to scorch through the arid landscapes of the Southwest. — Byjulia Jacobo, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2022 Dry ironing is a great way to make your clothes or fabric extra crisp, but finding a trustworthy iron that won't scorch your clothes or melt the tag can be a challenge. — Samantha Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2022 Spider plants will tend to scorch when grown in direct sunlight. — Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 6 Mar. 2022 Dozens of wildfires scorch thousands of acres in Texas. — CNN, 21 Mar. 2022 Failure to do so can result in anything from a drop in energy (which leads to the failure of any fusion) to seeing the plasma spill out of containment (and scorch the walls of the container). — John Timmer, Ars Technica, 16 Feb. 2022 The Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon nearly doubled in size from Saturday to Sunday to more than 150,000 acres as extreme heatwaves and wildfires continued to scorch the West. — NBC News, 12 July 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scorch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.