scorch

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈskȯrch 

scorched; scorching; scorches

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

ˈskȯr-chiŋ-lē 

adverb

scorch

2 of 3

noun

1

: a result of scorching

2

: a browning of plant tissues usually from disease or heat

scorch

3 of 3

verb (2)

scorched; scorching; scorches

transitive verb

dialectal British

: cut, slash

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• char
• singe
• bake

Examples of scorch in a Sentence

Verb (1)

the picnickers kept scorching their marshmallows, deliberately sticking their skewers into the licking flames of the campfire

weeks of drought had badly scorched the soil

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Herdade de Rio Frio’s cork oaks, which are native to Portugal and can resist frequent droughts and scorching summer temperatures, were planted more than a century ago. —Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025

Provide the Right Amount of Moisture A summer of scorching temperatures and, perhaps, torrential rains is hard on many plants. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025

Noun

By Thursday, July 24, the dome’s reach is expected to stretch into the Great Lakes and Northeast, bringing the intense summer scorch with it. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 23 July 2025

Shade during the hottest parts of the day can protect mint from sun scorch and drying out. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

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

Verb (2)

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

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing scorch

• leaf scorch

Rhymes for scorch

• porch
• torch

Kids Definition

scorch

1 of 2 verb

ˈskȯrch 

1

: to burn on the surface

2

: to burn so as to dry, wilt, or turn brown

scorch

2 of 2 noun

1

: a result of scorching

2

: a browning of plant tissues usually caused by disease or heat