Scorch — Defs

01 v. t. To burn superficially; to parch, or shrivel, the surface of, by heat; to subject to so much heat as changes color and texture without consu…

imp. & p. p. Scorched; p. pr. & vb. n. Scorching

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 singèd 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.

02 v. i. To be burnt on the surface; to be parched; to be dried up.

1.
To be burnt on the surface; to be parched; to be dried up.
“Scatter a little mungy straw or fern amongst your seedlings, to prevent the roots from scorching.” — Mortimer.
2.
To burn or be burnt.
“He laid his long forefinger on the scarlet letter, which forthwith seemed to scorch into Hester's breast, as if it had been red hot.” — Hawthorne.
3.
To ride or drive at great, usually at excessive, speed; -- applied chiefly to automobilists and bicyclists. [Colloq.][Colloq.]