Definition

Noun: A severe burn injury characterized by the full-thickness destruction of both the epidermis (outer layer of skin) and the dermis (deeper layer of skin), often damaging underlying tissues such as fat, muscle, or bone. This is the most serious classification of burn.

Usage

The term "third-degree burn" is used medically and in general contexts to describe the severity and nature of a burn injury. It functions as a countable noun.

Examples

• The victim suffered third-degree burns over 40% of his body after the house fire.
• A third-degree burn typically appears white, charred, or leathery and may not be painful initially because nerve endings are destroyed.
• Treatment for a third-degree burn often requires skin grafting.

Advanced Usage

• As a modifier: The term can be used attributively before another noun.
  • The patient was admitted to the third-degree burn unit at the hospital.

Variants and Related Words

• Burn (n.): General term for an injury caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation. Classified by degree: first-degree burn (superficial), second-degree burn (partial-thickness), and third-degree burn (full-thickness).
• Full-thickness burn (n.): A clinical synonym for a third-degree burn.

Synonyms

• Full-thickness burn

Antonyms

• First-degree burn (superficial burn affecting only the epidermis)
• Second-degree burn (partial-thickness burn affecting the epidermis and part of the dermis)

Noun

1. burn characterized by destruction of both epidermis and dermis