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 of scorch

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

Palo Alto and CrowdStrike have been scorching hot — as mentioned earlier — so expectations are elevated into the release. —Paulina Likos,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 29 May 2026

Too much sun exposure can cause both indoor and outdoor plants to scorch on the leaf margins. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 May 2026

Noun

Sentences that fizzle and scorch will also appeal to fans of Jade Sharma and Mary Robison, other bards of women on the absolute verge. —Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026

Occasional shearing or selective de-leafing may be necessary because of sun scorch, but lady’s mantle will overwinter better if left intact and cleaned up in the spring. —Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 9 May 2026

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

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

15th 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