to scorch
Third Person
scorches
Present Participle
scorching
Past Tense
scorched
Past Participle
scorched
1
to burn something slightly on the surface, causing a change in color without significant damage
transitive
- The iron was too hot and began to scorch the fabric.
- The intense sunlight can scorch the leaves of delicate plants.
- Care must be taken while cooking to avoid scorching the bottom of the pan.
- The hot summer days can scorch the grass, giving it a brown appearance.
- Using a high-temperature setting on the hair straightener may scorch the hair.
2
to dry out or cause something to shrivel by applying intense heat
transitive
- The sun scorched the crops, leaving them brittle and dry.
- The heat from the stove scorched the meat, causing it to shrink and toughen.
- The desert sun scorched the earth, leaving cracks in the ground.
- The wind was so hot it scorched my skin as I walked outside.
- The drought scorched the once-lush grass, turning it brown and brittle.
Synonyms:
3
to become burned or singed, typically on the surface
- The toast got too close to the broiler and began to scorch on the edges.
- The leaves scorched under the intense summer sun.
- The cookies in the oven scorched, turning black on the bottom.
- The paper began to scorch when the candle flame flickered too close.
- The dry grass scorched quickly after the wildfire started nearby.
4
destroy completely by or as if by fire
transitive
- The fire scorched everything in its path, leaving only ashes behind.
- The heat from the lava scorched the vegetation surrounding the volcano.
- The flames quickly scorched the wooden cabin, reducing it to rubble.
- The wildfires scorched large areas of the forest, leaving behind a barren landscape.
- He watched as the flames scorched the remains of the burned-out car.