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verb (used with object)
1.
to burn or char the surface of: She seared the steak to seal in the juices.
2.
to mark with a branding iron.
3.
to burn or scorch injuriously or painfully: He seared his hand on a hot steam pipe.
4.
to make callous or unfeeling; harden: The hardship of her youth has seared her emotionally.
5.
to dry up or wither; parch.
verb (used without object)
6.
to become dry or withered, as vegetation.
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Sear
is one of our favorite verbs.
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| to bark; yelp. |
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
noun
7.
a mark or scar made by searing.
adjective
8.
sere1.
Origin:
before 900; (adj.) Middle English sere, Old English sēar; cognate with Dutch zoor; (v.) Middle English seren, Old English sēarian, derivative of sēar
before 900; (adj.) Middle English sere, Old English sēar; cognate with Dutch zoor; (v.) Middle English seren, Old English sēarian, derivative of sēar
Related forms
un·seared, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
a pivoted piece that holds the hammer at full cock or half cock in the firing mechanism of small arms.
Origin:
1550–60; < Middle French serre a grip, derivative of serrer to lock up, close < Vulgar Latin *serrāre, for Late Latin serāre to bar (a door), derivative of Latin sera door-bar; Vulgar Latin -rr- unexplained
1550–60; < Middle French serre a grip, derivative of serrer to lock up, close < Vulgar Latin *serrāre, for Late Latin serāre to bar (a door), derivative of Latin sera door-bar; Vulgar Latin -rr- unexplained
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To Sear
Collins
World English Dictionary
sear1 (sɪə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to scorch or burn the surface of |
| 2. | to brand with a hot iron |
| 3. | to cause to wither or dry up |
| 4. | rare to make callous or unfeeling |
| —n | |
| 5. | a mark caused by searing |
| —adj | |
| 6. | poetic dried up |
| [Old English sēarian to become withered, from sēar withered; related to Old High German sōrēn, Greek hauos dry, Sanskrit sōsa drought] | |
| sear2 (sɪə) | |
| —n | |
| the catch in the lock of a small firearm that holds the hammer or firing pin cocked | |
| [C16: probably from Old French serre a clasp, from serrer to hold firmly, from Late Latin sērāre to bolt, from Latin sera a bar] | |
| sere or sear1 (sɪə) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | archaic dried up or withered |
| —vb, —n | |
| 2. | a rare spelling of sear |
| [Old English sēar; see | |
| sear or sear1 | |
| —adj | |
| —vb, —n | |
| [Old English sēar; see | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
sear
O.E. searian "dry up, to whither," from P.Gmc. *saurajan, from root of sear "dried up, withered" (see sere). Meaning "to brand, to burn by hot iron" is recorded from 1530; fig. use is from 1582.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
Raise heat to high, and sear duck pieces, stirring vegetables so they do not burn.
Turn the tuna over and sear on the other side, long enough to brown the outside but keeping the inside rare.
When using poppies as cut flowers, sear cut stem ends in a flame before placing them in water.
Season with salt and pepper and sear in the olive oil in large frying pan.
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