Definition of "scorch"

scorch

/skɔːtʃ/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural scorches
1. A slight or surface burn.
2. A discolouration caused by heat.
3. (phytopathology) Brown discoloration on the leaves of plants caused by heat, lack of water or by fungi.
verb
third-person singular simple present scorches, present participle scorching, simple past and past participle scorched
1. (transitive) To burn the surface of something so as to discolour it
2. (transitive) To wither, parch or destroy something by heat or fire, especially to make land or buildings unusable to an enemy
  Quotations
  Lashed by mad rage, and scorched by brutal fires.
  1709, Matthew Prior, Pleasure
3. (ergative) (To cause) to become scorched or singed
4. (intransitive) To move at high speed (so as to leave scorch marks on the ground, physically or figuratively).
  Quotations
  Men on cycles, lean-faced, unkempt, scorched along every country lane, shouting of unhoped deliverance, shouting to gaunt, staring figures of despair.
  1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 289
5. To burn; to destroy by, or as by, fire.
  Quotations
  Power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Revelation 16:8
  the fire that scorches me to death
  1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], (please specify the page number)
6. (transitive) To attack with bitter sarcasm or virulence.
7. (intransitive, colloquial, dated) To ride a bicycle furiously on a public highway.

Definition of "scorch"

scorch

noun

verb

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations