Definition

1. Noun:

   • A discoloration caused by heat: A mark or area on a surface where the material has been changed in color or texture due to exposure to excessive heat, often without full combustion.
   • A plant disease: A condition in plants that produces a browning or dried-out appearance on leaves or tissues, resembling the effect of burning.

2. Verb:

   • To burn slightly: To burn or discolor the surface of something with dry heat, affecting its appearance but not necessarily destroying it completely.
   • To become burned or dried by heat: To undergo superficial burning or drying due to intense heat or sun exposure.
   • To destroy by fire: To burn something severely, often leaving it blackened or charred.
   • To make very hot and dry: To expose something to extreme heat, causing it to become parched or dried out.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • There was a noticeable scorch on the wooden table from the hot pan.
  • The tomato plants were affected by leaf scorch.

• Verb:

  • Be careful not to scorch the shirt with the iron.
  • The grass scorched in the summer drought.
  • The fierce flames scorched the walls of the building.
  • The relentless sun scorched the earth.

Advanced Usage

• "to scorch the earth": A military or strategic tactic of destroying anything that might be useful to an enemy, especially crops and resources, while advancing or retreating. Used metaphorically to describe ruthless or destructive competition.
  • The retreating army used a scorched-earth policy.

Variants and Related Words

• Scorching (adj./adv.): Extremely hot; burning.
  • We walked home in the scorching afternoon heat.
• Scorcher (n., informal): A very hot day.
  • Today is an absolute scorcher.

Synonyms

• Singe: To burn superficially or lightly.
• Char: To burn or reduce to charcoal.
• Sear: To burn or scorch the surface of something with sudden intense heat.
• Parch: To make dry and hot; to roast with heat.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Scorch" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "to scorch a path": To move or progress with great speed and intensity.
  • The new startup is scorching a path through the tech industry.

Noun

1. a discoloration caused by heat
2. a plant disease that produces a browning or scorched appearance of plant tissues
3. a surface burn

Verb

1. become scorched or singed under intense heat or dry conditions
   • The exposed tree scorched in the hot sun
2. burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color
   • The cook blackened the chicken breast
   • The fire charred the ceiling above the mantelpiece
   • the flames scorched the ceiling
3. destroy completely by or as if by fire
   • The wildfire scorched the forest and several homes
   • the invaders scorched the land
4. become superficially burned
   • my eyebrows singed when I bent over the flames
5. make very hot and dry
   • The heat scorched the countryside