browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
scorched |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Scorch \Scorch\ (sk[^o]rch), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scorched}; p. pr & vb n. {Scorching}.] [OE. scorchen, probably akin to scorcnen cf Norw. skrokken shrunk up skrekka skr["o]kka, to shrink, to become wrinkled up dial. Sw skr[*a]kkla to wrinkle (see {Shrug}); but perhaps influenced by OF escorchier to strip the bark from to flay, to skin, F. ['e]corcher, LL excorticare; L. ex from + cortex, -icis, bark (cf. {Cork}); because the skin falls off when scorched.] 1. To burn superficially; to parch, or shrivel, the surface of by heat; to subject to so much heat as changes color and texture without consuming; as to scorch linen. Summer drouth or sing[`e]d air Never scorch thy tresses fair. --Milton. 2. To affect painfully with heat, or as with heat; to dry up with heat; to affect as by heat. Lashed by mad rage, and scorched by brutal fires. --Prior. 3. To burn; to destroy by or as by fire. Power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. --Rev. xvi. 8. The fire that scorches me to death. --Dryden. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: scorched adj 1: dried out by heat or excessive exposure to sunlight; "a vast desert all adust"; "land lying baked in the heat"; "parched soil"; "the earth was scorched and bare"; "sunbaked salt flats" [syn: {adust}, {baked}, {parched}, {sunbaked}] 2: having everything destroyed so nothing is left salvageable by an enemy; "Sherman's scorched earth policy" 3: damaged or discolored by superficial burning:"the scorched blouse tore easily"
more about scorched
This work is licensed under a
