GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Scorch , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scorched ; p. pr. & vb. n. Scorching.] [OE. scorchen, probably akin to scorcnen; cf. Norw. skrokken shrunk up, skrekka, skrökka, to shrink, to become wrinkled up, dial. Sw. skråkkla to wrinkle (see Shrug); but perhaps influenced by OF. escorchier to strip the bark from, to flay, to skin, F. écorcher, LL. excorticare; L. ex from + cortex, -icis, bark (cf. Cork); because the skin falls off when scorched.]
   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.
   1913 Webster
   Summer drouth or singèd air
   Never scorch thy tresses fair.
   Milton.
   
   1913 Webster
   To affect painfully with heat, or as with heat; to dry up with heat; to affect as by heat.
   1913 Webster
   Lashed by mad rage, and scorched by brutal fires.
   Prior.
   
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   To burn; to destroy by, or as by, fire.
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   Power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
   Rev. xvi. 8.
   
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   The fire that scorches me to death.
   Dryden.
   
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2.       
   Scorching, a.
   Burning; parching or shriveling with heat.
   1913 Webster
   sufficiently hot to cause scorching.
   PJC
    -- Scorch"ing*ly, adv. -- Scorch"ing*ness, n.
   1913 Webster