Definition

1. Noun:

   • A painful reddening of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun: It is a common skin condition resulting from too much sun, often characterized by redness, pain, and sometimes blistering.
   • A tan or browning of the skin resulting from sun exposure: This meaning refers to the skin's pigmentation change, which can be a sign of sun damage even without immediate pain or redness.

2. Verb (intransitive and transitive):

   • To suffer a sunburn: To become sunburned.
   • To cause a sunburn: To expose (someone or something) to the sun to the point of causing a burn.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • I forgot to apply sunscreen and got a terrible sunburn on my shoulders.
  • Her golden sunburn made her look like she had just returned from a tropical vacation.

• Verb:

  • If you don't wear a hat, you will sunburn your scalp.
  • Fair-skinned people sunburn very easily.

Advanced Usage

• "To be sunburned" (adjective): The common adjectival form describing the state of having a sunburn.

  • He was so sunburned that he couldn't wear a shirt for two days.

• "Sunburn potential": A term used in dermatology or weather reports to indicate the risk level of getting sunburned.

  • The sunburn potential is extremely high today due to the clear skies and high UV index.

Variants and Related Words

• Sunburned/Sunburnt (adj): Having a sunburn.

  • She had a sunburned nose.

• Sunburning (gerund/noun): The process or act of getting a sunburn.

  • Sunburning is a clear sign of skin damage.

Synonyms

• Noun: Erythema (medical term for redness), tan (for the browning effect), solar dermatitis.
• Verb: Burn, scorch.

Related Phrases

• "To be prone to sunburn": To have a tendency or susceptibility to get sunburned easily.

  • People with red hair are often prone to sunburn.

• "Sunburn relief": Products or methods used to soothe sunburned skin.

  • Aloe vera gel is commonly used for sunburn relief.

Notes on Meaning

• The noun "sunburn" primarily refers to the damaging, often painful effect of overexposure. The secondary meaning of a "tan" or browning is also a form of sunburn, representing the skin's defensive reaction to UV damage.
• As a verb, it is used both for the action of the sun causing the burn and for a person receiving the burn.

Noun

1. redness of the skin caused by exposure to the rays of the sun
2. a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun

Verb

1. get a sunburn by overexposure to the sun