Definition of 'burn'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense burns
, present participle burning
, past tense, past participle burned
, past tense, past participle burnt
language note: The past tense and past participle is burned in American English, and burned or burnt in British English.
5. verb
If you burn something that you are cooking or if it burns, you spoil it by using too much heat or cooking it for too long.
6. verb
If you burn part of your body, burn yourself, or are burnt, you are injured by fire or by something very hot.
[Also VERB pronoun-reflexive]7. verb [usually passive]
If someone is burnt or burnt to death, they are killed by fire.
9. verb [usually cont]
10. verb
If you are burning with an emotion or are burning to do something, you feel that emotion or the desire to do that thing very strongly.
11. verb
12. verb
13. verb [usually passive]
14. verb
To burn a CD-ROM means to write or copy data onto it.
[computing] 15. See also burning
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
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British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
burn in British English 1
verbWord forms: burns, burning, burnt or burned
1.
to undergo or cause to undergo combustion
2.
to destroy or be destroyed by fire
4.
to die or put to death by fire
to burn at the stake
5. (intransitive)
to be or feel hot
my forehead burns
8. (transitive)
to use for the purposes of light, heat, or power
to burn coal
9. (transitive)
to form by or as if by fire
to burn a hole
13.
to produce by or subject to heat as part of a process
to burn charcoal
15. astronomy
to burn hydrogen
19. (transitive) Australian slang
to drive (a vehicle) fast
20. See burn one's bridges
21. See burn the candle at both ends
22. See burn one's fingers
noun
23.
an injury caused by exposure to heat, electrical, chemical, or radioactive agents. Burns are classified according to the depth of tissue affected: first-degree burn: skin surface painful and red; second-degree burn: blisters appear on the skin; third-degree burn: destruction of both epidermis and dermis
24.
a mark, e.g. on wood, caused by burning
25.
a controlled use of rocket propellant, esp for a course correction
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English beornan (intr), bærnan (tr); related to Old Norse brenna (tr or intr), Gothic brinnan (intr), Latin fervēre to boil, seethe
Word Frequency
burn in British English 2
noun
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English burna; related to Old Norse brunnr spring, Old High German brunno, Lithuanian briáutis to burst forth
Word Frequency
burn in American English 1
verb transitiveWord forms: burned or burnt, ˈburning
1.
to set on fire or subject to combustion, as in order to produce heat, light, or power
2.
to destroy by fire
3.
to put to death by fire
4.
6.
to transform (body fat, etc.) into energy by metabolism
7.
to sunburn
8.
to brand
9.
to cauterize
11.
to cause by fire, heat, etc.
to burn a hole in a coat
12.
to cause a sensation of heat in
the horseradish burns the throat
14. Computing; Informal
15. US, Slang
to electrocute
16. Slang
verb intransitive
17.
to be on fire; flame; blaze
18.
to undergo combustion
19.
to give out light or heat; shine; glow
20.
to be destroyed by fire or heat
21.
to be injured or damaged by or as by fire or heat; become scorched, singed, etc.
22.
to die by fire
23.
to feel hot
24.
to be excited or inflamed, as with desire, anger, etc.
25. US, Slang
to be electrocuted
noun
SYNONYMY NOTE: burn1 is the broadest term in this comparison, denoting injury to any extent by fire, intense
heat, friction, acid, etc. [a burnt log, sunburned, windburned]; scorch, singe both imply superficial burning, scorch emphasizing discoloration or damaging of texture [to scorch a shirt in ironing], and singe, the burning off, often intentional, of bristles, feathers, the ends of hair, etc.; sear1 implies the burning of animal tissue and is applied specifically to the quick browning
of the outside, as of roasts, in cooking to seal in the juices; char1 implies a reduction by burning to charcoal or carbon. All of these terms have figurative
applications [a burning desire, a scorching tirade, a singed reputation, a soul-searing experience, charred hopes]26.
an injury or damage caused by fire, heat, radiation, wind, caustics, etc.: in medicine,
burns are classified as first-degree burn, reddening, second-degree burn, blistering, and third-degree burn, destruction of the skin and the tissues under it
27.
the process or result of burning, as in brick making
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
burn in American English 2
noun
Scottish
a brook
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
burn in American English 1
(bɜːrn) (verb burned or burnt, burning)
intransitive verb
1.
to undergo rapid combustion or consume fuel in such a way as to give off heat, gases,
and, usually, light; be on fire
The fire burned in the grate
2. (of a fireplace, furnace, etc.)
to contain a fire
3.
to feel heat or a physiologically similar sensation; feel pain from or as if from
a fire
The wound burned and throbbed
4.
to give off light or to glow brightly
The lights in the house burned all night
5.
to give off heat or be hot
The pavement burned in the noon sun
6.
to produce pain or a stinging sensation similar to that of fire; cause to smart
The whiskey burned in his throat
8.
to feel extreme anger
When she said I was rude, I really burned
9.
to feel strong emotion or passion
He burned with desire
12.
to receive a sunburn
She burns easily and has to stay in the shade
13.
to be damned
You may burn for that sin
transitive verb
16.
to cause to undergo combustion or be consumed partly or wholly by fire
17.
to use as fuel or as a source of light
He burned coal to heat the house
18.
to cause to feel the sensation of heat
19.
to overcook or char
I almost burned the roast
20.
to sunburn
22.
to execute by burning
The heretic was burned at the stake
23.
to subject to fire or treat with heat as a process of manufacturing
24.
to produce with or as if with fire
She burned a hole in her dress
25.
to cause sharp pain or a stinging sensation
The iodine burned his cut
27. slang
to suffer losses or be disillusioned in business or social relationships
She was burned by that phony stock deal
28. slang
to cheat or rob
29. Chemistry
to cause to undergo combustion; oxidize
30.
to damage through excessive friction, as in grinding or machining; scorch
34. slang
to burn a narcotics detective
35. See burn down
36. See burn in
37. See burn off
38. See burn on
39. See burn one's bridges (behind one)
40. See burn oneself out
41. See burn one up
42. See burn out
43. See burn the candle at both ends
44. See burn the midnight oil
45. See burn up
noun
SYNONYMS 1. flame. 3. tingle, glow. 16. char, toast, brown, tan. burn, scorch, sear, singe refer to the effect of fire or heat. To burn is to consume, wholly or in part, by contact with fire or excessive heat: to burn leaves. scorch implies superficial or slight burning, resulting in a change of color or in injury
to the texture because of shriveling or curling: to scorch a dress while ironing. sear refers esp. to the drying or hardening caused by heat: to sear a roast of meat. singe applies esp. to a superficial burning that takes off ends or projections: to singe hair; singe the pinfeathers from a chicken. 46.
a burned place or area
a burn where fire had ripped through the forest
47. Pathology
an injury usually caused by heat but also by abnormal cold, chemicals, poison gas, electricity, or lightning, and characterized by a painful reddening and swelling of the epidermis (first-degree burn), damage extending into the dermis, usually with blistering (second-degree burn), or destruction of the epidermis and dermis extending into the deeper tissue with
loss of pain receptors (third-degree burn)
48. See slow burn
49.
the process or an instance of burning or baking, as in brickmaking
50.
a forest or brush fire
51.
the firing of a rocket engine
52. slang
a swindle
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
burnable adjective
Word origin
[bef. 900; ME bernen, brennen, OE beornan (intrans.), (c. Goth, OHG brinnan), and OE bærnan (transit.), (c. Goth brannjan, OHG brennen)]Word Frequency
burn in American English 2
(bɜːrn)
noun
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 900; ME burne, bourne, OE burna, brunna brook; c. Goth brunna, D born, bron, G Brunnen, ON brunnr spring]Examples of 'burn' in a sentence
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In other languages
burn
British English: burn
/bɜːn/ NOUN
A burn is an injury caused by fire or something very hot.
She suffered burns to her back.
- American English: burn /ˈbɜrn/
- Arabic: حَرْق
- Brazilian Portuguese: queimadura
- Chinese: 烧伤
- Croatian: opeklina
- Czech: popálenina
- Danish: forbrænding
- Dutch: brandwond
- European Spanish: quemadura
- Finnish: palovamma
- French: brûlure
- German: Brandwunde
- Greek: κάψιμο
- Italian: bruciatura
- Japanese: 火傷
- Korean: 화상
- Norwegian: brannsår
- Polish: oparzenie
- European Portuguese: queimadura
- Romanian: arsură
- Russian: ожог
- Latin American Spanish: quemadura
- Swedish: brännsår
- Thai: แผลไหม้
- Turkish: yanık
- Ukrainian: опік
- Vietnamese: vết bỏng
British English: burn
/bɜːn/ VERB
be on fire If something is burning, it is on fire.
The bonfire is still burning.
- American English: burn /ˈbɜrn/
- Arabic: يَحْرق
- Brazilian Portuguese: queimar
- Chinese: 烧
- Croatian: gorjeti
- Czech: hořet
- Danish: brænde
- Dutch: branden
- European Spanish: arder
- Finnish: polttaa
- French: brûler
- German: verbrennen
- Greek: καίω
- Italian: bruciare
- Japanese: 燃やす
- Korean: ...을 불태우다
- Norwegian: brenne
- Polish: oparzyć
- European Portuguese: arder
- Romanian: a arde
- Russian: гореть
- Latin American Spanish: quemar
- Swedish: bränna
- Thai: ไหม้, เผาไหม้
- Turkish: yakmak ateşte
- Ukrainian: горіти
- Vietnamese: đốt cháy
British English: burn
/bɜːn/ VERB
damage with fire If you burn something, you destroy it or damage it with fire.
He burned all the rubbish.
- American English: burn /ˈbɜrn/
- Arabic: يُحْرِقُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: queimar
- Chinese: 烧掉
- Croatian: spaliti
- Czech: spálitzničit ohněm
- Danish: brænde
- Dutch: verbranden
- European Spanish: quemar
- Finnish: polttaa
- French: brûler
- German: verbrennen
- Greek: καίω
- Italian: bruciare
- Japanese: ・・・を燃やす
- Korean: 태우다
- Norwegian: brenne
- Polish: palić
- European Portuguese: queimar
- Romanian: a arde
- Russian: сжечь
- Latin American Spanish: quemar
- Swedish: bränna
- Thai: เผา
- Turkish: yakmak
- Ukrainian: підпалювати
- Vietnamese: đốt
British English: burn
/bɜːn/ VERB
yourself If you burn yourself, you touch something that is hot and get hurt.
I burned myself on the hot iron.
- American English: burn /ˈbɜrn/
- Arabic: يَحْتَرِقُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: queimar-se
- Chinese: 烫伤
- Croatian: opeći se
- Czech: spálit seo plamen
- Danish: brænde
- Dutch: verbranden
- European Spanish: quemarse
- Finnish: polttaa
- French: se brûler
- German: sich verbrennen
- Greek: καίγομαι
- Italian: bruciarsi
- Japanese: やけどをする
- Korean: 불에 데다
- Norwegian: brenne
- Polish: oparzyć się
- European Portuguese: queimar-se
- Romanian: a se frige
- Russian: обжечься
- Latin American Spanish: quemarse
- Swedish: bränna sig
- Thai: ลวก
- Turkish: yakmak
- Ukrainian: отримати опік
- Vietnamese: bị bỏng
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