scorch

play

verb \ ˈskȯrch \

Definition of scorch

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 (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

—

scorchingly

play \ˈskȯr-chiŋ-lē\ adverb

Recent Examples of scorch from the Web

A blistering heat wave scorching California has prompted officials managing much of the state’s power grid to issue a Flex Alert that calls for consumers to voluntarily conserve electricity from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

— rob nikolewski, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Flex Alert issued to deal with heat wave in California," 29 Aug. 2017
The flames scorched 62 open acres before ground and airborne crews were able to halt their spread.

— city news service, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Firefighters fully contain desert fire near Borrego Springs," 28 Aug. 2017
A day in the life of a Western & Southern Open competitor In a rare feat, Dimitrov broke Kyrgios' scorching serve twice – once in each set.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Grigor Dimitrov takes 2017 Western & Southern singles title," 20 Aug. 2017
The Lodgepole Complex fire scorched 425 square miles, about twice the size of Chicago.

— tim craig, Washington Post, "Massive wildfires turned prairies to ash, leading Montana’s cowboys to weigh federal help," 13 Aug. 2017
The remarks, though hardly scorching, registered as a pointed message from the laconic Senate leader, who has strained all year to wrangle his narrow majority.

— matt flegenheimer, New York Times, "Deepening Rift, Trump Won’t Say if Mitch McConnell Should Step Down," 10 Aug. 2017
Hector Villalba has been in scorching form in those victories, including a stupendous winning goal against Orlando on Friday. 6 With no major international absences other than Kemar Lawrence,

— alexander abnos, SI.com, "MLS Power Rankings Week 20: Resetting the League After Gold Cup Break," 25 July 2017
Alabama has been blanketed under a wave of scorching hot temperatures in recent days.

— leada gore, AL.com, "What cooks in a car in the Alabama heat? Find out," 22 July 2017
A lot of white people wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts were out in the rain and scorching heat marching for Sam.

— mark curnutte, Cincinnati.com, "Ray Tensing, Sam DuBose each have own march," 20 July 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of scorch

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

scorch

noun

Definition of scorch

1 :a result of scorching

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

See scorch defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of scorch from the Web

And despite its additions, subtractions and fires — scorch marks from Ross’s arson are still visible below the North Portico — the place has flourished and fulfilled Washington’s hopes.

— daniel s. levy / time books, Time, "Is the White House a 'Dump'? It Used to Be," 2 Aug. 2017
Scouts who saw him roam center field with Jim Edmonds-like flair or scorch line drives with Paul Molitor-like ferocity assured him there would be millions in MLB money available should Tabares choose to defect.

— dan mcgrath, chicagotribune.com, "Defections to U.S. rob Cuba of superpower baseball status," 3 July 2017
Nothing takes the edge off summer scorch as effectively as a few cold beers.

— kara martinez bachman, NOLA.com, "Charity on tap: All-you-can-drink Twisted Beer Fest to benefit St. Tammany Humane Society," 31 May 2017
There were scorch marks in places where soldiers had prepared food.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Network of WWI Training Tunnels and Trenches Found in England," 27 Apr. 2017
Flanked by a New Shepard rocket featuring the telltale scorch marks of multiple flights, Mr. Bezos appeared before a gaggle of reporters during a conference here Wednesday to lay...

— andy pasztor, WSJ, "Jeff Bezos Sees ‘Golden Age’ for Entrepreneurs in Space," 5 Apr. 2017
Video from the scene showed a police shuttle bus flipped on its side with its windows blown out, alongside another police bus with scorch marks and near the wreckage of a charred car.

— ceylan yeginsu, New York Times, "Turkish Member of ISIS Carried Out Istanbul Bombing, Official Says MARCH 20, 2016," 7 June 2016

First Known Use of scorch

15th century

scorch

verb

Definition of scorch

transitive verb

dialectal British

:cut, slash

Recent Examples of scorch from the Web

A blistering heat wave scorching California has prompted officials managing much of the state’s power grid to issue a Flex Alert that calls for consumers to voluntarily conserve electricity from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

— rob nikolewski, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Flex Alert issued to deal with heat wave in California," 29 Aug. 2017
The flames scorched 62 open acres before ground and airborne crews were able to halt their spread.

— city news service, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Firefighters fully contain desert fire near Borrego Springs," 28 Aug. 2017
A day in the life of a Western & Southern Open competitor In a rare feat, Dimitrov broke Kyrgios' scorching serve twice – once in each set.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Grigor Dimitrov takes 2017 Western & Southern singles title," 20 Aug. 2017
The Lodgepole Complex fire scorched 425 square miles, about twice the size of Chicago.

— tim craig, Washington Post, "Massive wildfires turned prairies to ash, leading Montana’s cowboys to weigh federal help," 13 Aug. 2017
The remarks, though hardly scorching, registered as a pointed message from the laconic Senate leader, who has strained all year to wrangle his narrow majority.

— matt flegenheimer, New York Times, "Deepening Rift, Trump Won’t Say if Mitch McConnell Should Step Down," 10 Aug. 2017
Hector Villalba has been in scorching form in those victories, including a stupendous winning goal against Orlando on Friday. 6 With no major international absences other than Kemar Lawrence,

— alexander abnos, SI.com, "MLS Power Rankings Week 20: Resetting the League After Gold Cup Break," 25 July 2017
Alabama has been blanketed under a wave of scorching hot temperatures in recent days.

— leada gore, AL.com, "What cooks in a car in the Alabama heat? Find out," 22 July 2017
A lot of white people wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts were out in the rain and scorching heat marching for Sam.

— mark curnutte, Cincinnati.com, "Ray Tensing, Sam DuBose each have own march," 20 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of scorch

Middle English, perhaps blend of scoren to score and scocchen to scotch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

SCORCH Defined for English Language Learners

scorch

noun

Definition of scorch for English Language Learners

: a damaged area or mark that is caused by burning

SCORCH Defined for Kids

scorch

play

verb \ ˈskȯrch \

Definition of scorch for Students

scorched; scorching

1 :to burn on the surface The fire scorched the bottom of the pan.

2 :to dry or shrivel with or as if with intense heat Drought scorched the crops.

3 :to produce intense heat

The wind had died and already the sun was beginning to scorch.
—Theodore Taylor, The Cay

Learn More about scorch

See words that rhyme with scorch Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for scorch Spanish Central: Translation of scorch Nglish: Translation of scorch for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of scorch for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scorch

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scorchingly

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scorch

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scorch

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Origin and Etymology of scorch

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SCORCH Defined for English Language Learners

scorch

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