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Definition of scorch
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 : parchb : 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
People Are Reading
Recent Examples of scorch from the Web
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Global warming will likely heighten the risk of large, more difficult to control wildfires scorching the western United States.
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But scorching summer days won’t alter the South’s crime rates.
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Nearly 50 flights out of Phoenix, Ariz. were cancelled Tuesday thanks to scorching temperatures across the southwestern United States.
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Nearly 50 flights out of Phoenix, Ariz. were cancelled Tuesday thanks to scorching temperatures across the southwestern United States.
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Scorching weather, as well as strong winds and woods that are bone dry after weeks with little rain, fueled the blazes.
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The weather was scorching Saturday, although 35,928 hearty fans braved the elements anyway at Globe Life Park.
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Four employees have been fired after a 5-year-old boy died when he was left in a scorching hot van outside his day care facility in West Memphis, Arkansas, the center's parent company said Wednesday.
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Nonetheless, in some parts of the United States, temperatures are already scorching.
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
scorch
Definition of scorch
1 : a result of scorching
2 : a browning of plant tissues usually from disease or heat
Recent Examples of scorch from the Web
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Nothing takes the edge off summer scorch as effectively as a few cold beers.
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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...
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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.
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.
First Known Use of scorch
15th century
Recent Examples of scorch from the Web
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Global warming will likely heighten the risk of large, more difficult to control wildfires scorching the western United States.
-
But scorching summer days won’t alter the South’s crime rates.
-
Nearly 50 flights out of Phoenix, Ariz. were cancelled Tuesday thanks to scorching temperatures across the southwestern United States.
-
Nearly 50 flights out of Phoenix, Ariz. were cancelled Tuesday thanks to scorching temperatures across the southwestern United States.
-
Scorching weather, as well as strong winds and woods that are bone dry after weeks with little rain, fueled the blazes.
-
The weather was scorching Saturday, although 35,928 hearty fans braved the elements anyway at Globe Life Park.
-
Four employees have been fired after a 5-year-old boy died when he was left in a scorching hot van outside his day care facility in West Memphis, Arkansas, the center's parent company said Wednesday.
-
Nonetheless, in some parts of the United States, temperatures are already scorching.
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, perhaps blend of scoren to score and scocchen to scotch
SCORCH Defined for English Language Learners
scorch
Definition of scorch for English Language Learners
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: a damaged area or mark that is caused by burning
SCORCH Defined for Kids
scorch
playDefinition 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
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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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