sunburn
/'sʌnbə:n/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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
- redness of the skin caused by exposure to the rays of the sun
- a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
Verb
- get a sunburn by overexposure to the sun