to undergo rapid combustion or consume fuel in such a way as to give off heat, gases, and, usually, light; be on fire: The fire burned in the grate.
2.
(of a fireplace, furnace, etc.) to contain a fire.
3.
to feel heat or a physiologically similar sensation; feel pain from or as if from a fire: The wound burned and throbbed.
4.
to give off light or to glow brightly: The lights in the house burned all night.
5.
to give off heat or be hot: The pavement burned in the noon sun.
6.
to produce pain or a stinging sensation similar to that of fire; cause to smart: The whiskey burned in his throat.
7.
Games. to be extremely close to finding a concealed object or guessing an answer.
8.
to feel extreme anger: When she said I was rude, I really burned.
9.
to feel strong emotion or passion: He burned with desire.
10.
Chemistry.
a.
to undergo combustion, either fast or slow; oxidize.
b.
to undergo fission or fusion.
11.
to become charred or overcooked by heat: The steak burned around the edges.
12.
to receive a sunburn: She burns easily and has to stay in the shade.
13.
to be damned: You may burn for that sin.
14.
Slang. to die in an electric chair: The murderer was sentenced to burn.
15.
to be engraved by or as if by burning: His words burned into her heart.
–verb (used with object)
16.
to cause to undergo combustion or be consumed partly or wholly by fire.
17.
to use as fuel or as a source of light: He burned coal to heat the house.
18.
to cause to feel the sensation of heat.
19.
to overcook or char: I almost burned the roast.
20.
to sunburn.
21.
to injure, endanger, or damage with or as if with fire: Look out, you'll burn yourself!
22.
to execute by burning: The heretic was burned at the stake.
23.
to subject to fire or treat with heat as a process of manufacturing.
24.
to produce with or as if with fire: She burned a hole in her dress.
25.
to cause sharp pain or a stinging sensation: The iodine burned his cut.
26.
to consume rapidly, esp. to squander: He burned energy as if he never heard of resting.
27.
Slang. to suffer losses or be disillusioned in business or social relationships: She was burned by that phony stock deal.
28.
Slang. to cheat or rob.
29.
to record data on (a CD or DVD).
30.
Chemistry. to cause to undergo combustion; oxidize.
31.
to damage through excessive friction, as in grinding or machining; scorch.
32.
Metallurgy. to oxidize (a steel ingot), as with a flame.
33.
British. to scald (a wine, esp. sherry) in an iron container over a fire.
34.
Cards. to put (a played or rejected card) face up at the bottom of the pack.
35.
Slang. to disclose the identity of (an undercover agent, law officer, etc.): to burn a narcotics detective.
–noun
36.
a burned place or area: a burn where fire had ripped through the forest.
37.
Pathology. an injury usually caused by heat but also by abnormal cold, chemicals, poison gas, electricity, or lightning, and characterized by a painful reddening and swelling of the epidermis (first-degree burn), damage extending into the dermis, usually with blistering (second-degree burn), or destruction of the epidermis and dermis extending into the deeper tissue with loss of pain receptors (third-degree burn).
the process or an instance of burning or baking, as in brickmaking.
40.
a forest or brush fire.
41.
the firing of a rocket engine.
42.
Slang. a swindle.
—Verb phrases
43.
burn down, to burn to the ground: That barn was struck by lightning and burned down.
44.
burn in, Photography. (in printing) to expose (one part of an image) to more light by masking the other parts in order to darken and give greater detail to the unmasked area. Also, print in.Compare dodge(def. 2).
45.
burn off, (of morning mist) to be dissipated by the warmth of the rising sun.
46.
burn on, to weld lead with lead.
47.
burn one up, Informal. to incite to anger: That attitude burns me up.
48.
burn out,
a.
to cease functioning because something has been exhausted or burned up, as fuel or a filament: Our light bulbs burned out.
b.
to deprive of a place to live, work, etc., by reason of fire: They were burned out and had to live with relatives.
c.
to wear out; exhaust; be worn out; become exhausted.
49.
burn up,
a.
to burn completely or utterly: The papers burned up in a minute.
b.
Informal. to become angry: He burns up at the mention of her name.
burn oneself out, to exhaust one's energy, ideas, etc., through overwork or intemperance: They feared that he would burn himself out or break down.
52.
burn the midnight oil, to work, study,etc., until late at night: to burn the midnight oil before final exams.
53.
burn the or one's candle at both ends, to be excessively active or immoderate, as by leading an active social life by night and a busy work life by day: You can't burn the candle at both ends and hold onto a job.
Synonyms: 1.flame. 3.tingle, glow. 16.char, toast, brown, tan. Burn,scorch,sear,singe refer to the effect of fire or heat. To burn is to consume, wholly or in part, by contact with fire or excessive heat: to burn leaves. Scorch implies superficial or slight burning, resulting in a change of color or in injury to the texture because of shriveling or curling: to scorch a dress while ironing. Sear refers esp. to the drying or hardening caused by heat: to sear a roast of meat. Singe applies esp. to a superficial burning that takes off ends or projections: to singe hair; singe the pinfeathers from a chicken.
burn 1 (bûrn) v.
burned or burnt (bûrnt), burn·ing, burns
v.
tr.
To cause to undergo combustion.
To destroy with fire: burned the trash; burn a house down.
To consume (fuel or energy, for example): burned all the wood that winter.
To execute or kill with fire: burning heretics at the stake.
To execute by electrocution.
To make or produce by fire or heat: burn a hole in the rug.
To dispel; dissipate: The sun burned off the fog.
To use as a fuel: a furnace that burns coal.
To metabolize (glucose, for example) in the body.
To irritate or inflame, as by chafing or sunburn.
To let (oneself or a part of one's body) become sunburned.
To defeat in a contest, especially by a narrow margin.
Sports To outplay or score on (an opponent), especially through quick or deceptive movement.
To inflict harm or hardship on; hurt: "Huge loan losses have burned banks in recent years"(Christian Science Monitor).
To swindle or deceive; cheat: We really got burned on the used car we bought.
Physics To cause to undergo nuclear fission or fusion.
To damage or injure by fire, heat, radiation, electricity, or a caustic agent: burned the toast; burned my skin with the acid.
To execute or kill with fire: burning heretics at the stake.
To execute by electrocution.
To make or produce by fire or heat: burn a hole in the rug.
To dispel; dissipate: The sun burned off the fog.
To use as a fuel: a furnace that burns coal.
To metabolize (glucose, for example) in the body.
To irritate or inflame, as by chafing or sunburn.
To let (oneself or a part of one's body) become sunburned.
To defeat in a contest, especially by a narrow margin.
Sports To outplay or score on (an opponent), especially through quick or deceptive movement.
To inflict harm or hardship on; hurt: "Huge loan losses have burned banks in recent years"(Christian Science Monitor).
To swindle or deceive; cheat: We really got burned on the used car we bought.
To make or produce by fire or heat: burn a hole in the rug.
To dispel; dissipate: The sun burned off the fog.
To use as a fuel: a furnace that burns coal.
To metabolize (glucose, for example) in the body.
To irritate or inflame, as by chafing or sunburn.
To let (oneself or a part of one's body) become sunburned.
To defeat in a contest, especially by a narrow margin.
Sports To outplay or score on (an opponent), especially through quick or deceptive movement.
To inflict harm or hardship on; hurt: "Huge loan losses have burned banks in recent years"(Christian Science Monitor).
To swindle or deceive; cheat: We really got burned on the used car we bought.
To use as a fuel: a furnace that burns coal.
To metabolize (glucose, for example) in the body.
To irritate or inflame, as by chafing or sunburn.
To let (oneself or a part of one's body) become sunburned.
To defeat in a contest, especially by a narrow margin.
Sports To outplay or score on (an opponent), especially through quick or deceptive movement.
To inflict harm or hardship on; hurt: "Huge loan losses have burned banks in recent years"(Christian Science Monitor).
To swindle or deceive; cheat: We really got burned on the used car we bought.
To impart a sensation of intense heat to: The chili burned my mouth.
To irritate or inflame, as by chafing or sunburn.
To let (oneself or a part of one's body) become sunburned.
To defeat in a contest, especially by a narrow margin.
Sports To outplay or score on (an opponent), especially through quick or deceptive movement.
To inflict harm or hardship on; hurt: "Huge loan losses have burned banks in recent years"(Christian Science Monitor).
To swindle or deceive; cheat: We really got burned on the used car we bought.
To brand (an animal).
To engrave or make indelible by as or as if by burning: The image of the accident was burned into my memory.
To harden or impart a finish to by subjecting to intense heat; fire: burn clay pots in a kiln.
To make angry: That remark really burns me.
To defeat in a contest, especially by a narrow margin.
Sports To outplay or score on (an opponent), especially through quick or deceptive movement.
To inflict harm or hardship on; hurt: "Huge loan losses have burned banks in recent years"(Christian Science Monitor).
To swindle or deceive; cheat: We really got burned on the used car we bought.
To record data on (a compact disk, for example).
v.
intr.
To undergo combustion.
To admit of burning: Wood burns easily.
To emit heat or light by or as if by fire: campfires burning in the dark; the sun burning brightly in the sky.
To become dissipated or to be dispelled by or as if by heat: The fog burned off as the sun came up.
To be very hot; bake: a desert burning under the midday sun.
To feel or look hot: a child burning with fever.
To impart a sensation of heat: a liniment that burns when first applied.
To become irritated or painful, as by chafing or inflammation: eyes burning from the smoke.
To become sunburned or windburned.
To be or become angry: an insult that really made me burn.
To be very eager: was burning with ambition.
To suffer punishment or death by or as if by fire: souls burning in hell.
To be electrocuted.
To consume fuel: a rocket stage designed to burn for three minutes before being jettisoned.
Physics To undergo nuclear fission or fusion.
To emit heat or light by or as if by fire: campfires burning in the dark; the sun burning brightly in the sky.
To become dissipated or to be dispelled by or as if by heat: The fog burned off as the sun came up.
To be very hot; bake: a desert burning under the midday sun.
To feel or look hot: a child burning with fever.
To impart a sensation of heat: a liniment that burns when first applied.
To become irritated or painful, as by chafing or inflammation: eyes burning from the smoke.
To become sunburned or windburned.
To be or become angry: an insult that really made me burn.
To be very eager: was burning with ambition.
To suffer punishment or death by or as if by fire: souls burning in hell.
To be electrocuted.
To give off light; shine: a light burning over the door.
To be destroyed, injured, damaged, or changed by or as if by fire: a house that burned to the ground; eggs that burned and stuck to the pan.
To be very hot; bake: a desert burning under the midday sun.
To feel or look hot: a child burning with fever.
To impart a sensation of heat: a liniment that burns when first applied.
To become irritated or painful, as by chafing or inflammation: eyes burning from the smoke.
To become sunburned or windburned.
To be or become angry: an insult that really made me burn.
To be very eager: was burning with ambition.
To suffer punishment or death by or as if by fire: souls burning in hell.
To be electrocuted.
To become irritated or painful, as by chafing or inflammation: eyes burning from the smoke.
To become sunburned or windburned.
To be or become angry: an insult that really made me burn.
To be very eager: was burning with ambition.
To suffer punishment or death by or as if by fire: souls burning in hell.
To be electrocuted.
To be consumed with strong emotion, especially:
To be or become angry: an insult that really made me burn.
To be very eager: was burning with ambition.
To suffer punishment or death by or as if by fire: souls burning in hell.
To be electrocuted.
To penetrate by or as if by intense heat or flames: enemy ground radar burning through the fighters' electronic jammers; a look that burned into them.
To be engraved by or as if by burning: shame burning in my heart.
To suffer punishment or death by or as if by fire: souls burning in hell.
To be electrocuted.
n.
An injury produced by fire, heat, radiation, electricity, or a caustic agent.
A burned place or area: a cigarette burn in the tablecloth.
An act, process, or result of burning: The fire settled down to a steady burn.
A sensation of intense heat or stinging pain: a chili burn on the tongue; the burn of alcohol on an open wound.
A sunburn or windburn.
Aerospace A firing of a rocket.
A swindle.
To stop burning from lack of fuel.
To wear out or make or become inoperative as a result of heat or friction: The short circuit burned out the fuse.
To cause (a property owner or a resident) to have to evacuate the premises because of fire: The shopkeeper was burned out by arsonists.
To make or become exhausted, especially as a result of long-term stress: "Hours are long, stress is high, and many recruits drop out or burn out"(Robert J. Samuelson).
To make angry: Their rudeness really burns me up.
To travel over or through at high speed: drag racers burning up the track.
Phrasal Verb(s): burn inTo darken part of (a photograph print) by exposing unmasked areas. burn out
To stop burning from lack of fuel.
To wear out or make or become inoperative as a result of heat or friction: The short circuit burned out the fuse.
To cause (a property owner or a resident) to have to evacuate the premises because of fire: The shopkeeper was burned out by arsonists.
To make or become exhausted, especially as a result of long-term stress: "Hours are long, stress is high, and many recruits drop out or burn out"(Robert J. Samuelson).
burn up
To make angry: Their rudeness really burns me up.
To travel over or through at high speed: drag racers burning up the track.
Idiom(s):
burn (one's) bridgesTo eliminate the possibility of return or retreat.
Idiom(s):
burn the/one's candle at both endsTo exhaust oneself or one's resources by leading a hectic or extravagant life.
Idiom(s):
burn the midnight oilTo work or study very late at night.
Idiom(s):
to burnIn great amounts: They had money to burn.
[Middle English burnen, from Old English beornan, to be on fire, and from bærnan, to set on fire; see gwher- in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: These verbs mean to injure or alter by means of intense heat or flames. Burn, the most general, applies to the effects of exposure to a source of heat or to something that can produce a similar effect: burned the muffins in the oven. Scorch involves superficial burning that discolors or damages the texture of something: scorched the shirt with the iron. Singe specifies superficial burning and especially the deliberate removal of projections such as feathers from a carcass before cooking: singed my eyelashes when the fire flared up; singed the chicken before roasting it. Sear applies to surface burning of organic tissue: seared the lamb over high heat. To char is to use fire to reduce a substance to carbon or charcoal: wood charred by the fire. Parch in this sense emphasizes the drying and often fissuring of a surface: the hot sun that parched the soil.
burn 2 (bûrn) n.
Scots A small stream; a brook.
[Middle English, from Old English burna; see bhreu- in Indo-European roots.]
n. a cigarette. : Fred just stood there with a burn on his lower lip and his hands in his pockets.
tv. to smoke a cigarette. : I need to burn a fag. Just a minute.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History
burn
12c., combination of O.N. brenna "to burn, light," and two originally distinct O.E. verbs: bærnan "to kindle" (trans.) and beornan "to be on fire" (intrans.), both from P.Gmc. *brenwanan, perhaps from PIE *bhre-n-u, from base *bhereu- "to boil forth, well up." This root was also the source of O.E. born, burne "a spring, fountain," still common in place names. Meaning "cheat, swindle, victimize" is first attested 1655. Burnout "drug user" is early 1970s slang. Slow burn first attested 1938, in ref. to U.S. movie actor Edgar Kennedy, who made it his specialty.
Main Entry: 1burn Pronunciation: 'b&rn Function: verb Inflected Forms: burned/'b&rnd, 'b&rnt/orburnt/'b&rnt/;burn·ing intransitive senses 1: to produce or undergo discomfort or pain burns so> burning from the cold> 2: to receive sunburn burns easily> burntransitive senses : to injure or damage byexposure to fire, heat, or radiation <burned his hand>
Main Entry: 2burn Function: noun 1: bodily injury resulting from exposure to heat, caustics, electricity, or some radiations, marked by varyingdegrees of skin destruction and hyperemia often with the formation of watery blisters and in severe cases by charring of the tissues, and classified according to the extent and degree of the injury—see FIRST-DEGREE BURN, SECOND-DEGREEBURN, THIRD-DEGREE BURN 2: an abrasion having the appearance of a burn burns> burn> 3: a burning sensation burn of iodine applied to a cut>
[burn] 
verb, burned or burnt, burn⋅ing, noun 