Burn (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

verb (used without object), burned or burnt, burn·ing.

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.
(of a fireplace, furnace, etc.) to contain a fire.
to feel heat or a physiologically similar sensation; feel pain from or as if from a fire: The wound burned and throbbed.
to give off light or to glow brightly: The lights in the house burned all night.
to give off heat or be hot: The pavement burned in the noon sun.
to produce pain or a stinging sensation similar to that of fire; cause to smart: The whiskey burned in his throat.
to feel extreme anger: When she said I was rude, I really burned.
to feel strong emotion or passion: He burned with desire.
Chemistry.

verb (used with object), burned or burnt, burn·ing.

to cause to undergo combustion or be consumed partly or wholly by fire.
to use as fuel or as a source of light: He burned coal to heat the house.
to cause to feel the sensation of heat.
to overcook or char: I almost burned the roast.
to sunburn.
to injure, endanger, or damage with or as if with fire: Look out, you'll burn yourself!
to execute by burning: The heretic was burned at the stake.
to subject to fire or treat with heat as a process of manufacturing.
to produce with or as if with fire: She burned a hole in her dress.
to cause sharp pain or a stinging sensation: The iodine burned his cut.
to consume rapidly, especially to squander: He burned energy as if he never heard of resting.
to suffer losses or be disillusioned in business or social relationships: She was burned by that phony stock deal.
to cheat or rob.
to insult in a way that is especially perceptive and therefore especially harsh and humiliating: You just got burned by a seven year old—the kid calls it as she sees it!
to copy or write data to (an optical disk): She burned a CD of their favorite songs.
to cause to undergo combustion; oxidize.
to damage through excessive friction, as in grinding or machining; scorch.
to oxidize (a steel ingot), as with a flame.
to scald (a wine, especially sherry) in an iron container over a fire.
to put (a played or rejected card) face up at the bottom of the pack.
to disclose the identity of (an undercover agent, law officer, etc.): to burn a narcotics officer.

noun

a burned place or area: a burn where fire had ripped through the forest.
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 ).
slow burn.
the process or an instance of burning or baking, as in brickmaking.
a forest or brush fire.
the firing of a rocket engine.
a burning sensation felt in the muscles during intense exercise: Repeat the sit-ups till you feel the burn in your lower abs.
a swindle.
an especially harsh and humiliating insult or put-down, often delivered in the presence of others:Ooh, sick burn, bruh! His ego must need first aid after that burn.

Verb Phrases

to burn to the ground: That barn was struck by lightning and burned down.
(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.
(of morning mist) to be dissipated by the warmth of the rising sun.
to weld lead with lead.
to incite to anger: That attitude burns me up.
burn out,

to cease functioning because something has been exhausted or burned up, as fuel or a filament: Our light bulbs burned out.
to deprive of a place to live, work, etc., by reason of fire: They were burned out and had to live with relatives.
to wear out; exhaust; be worn out; become exhausted.

Idioms

bridge¹ (def. 27).
to exhaust one's energy, ideas, etc., through overwork or intemperance: They feared that he would burn himself out or break down.
to work, study, etc., until late at night: to burn the midnight oil before final exams.
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.

noun Scot. and North England.

verb burns, burning, burnt or burned

to undergo or cause to undergo combustion
to destroy or be destroyed by fire
to damage, injure, or mark by heat
to die or put to death by fire
to be or feel hot
to smart or cause to smart
to feel strong emotion, esp anger or passion
to use for the purposes of light, heat, or power
to form by or as if by fire
to char or become charred
to brand or cauterize
to cut (metal) with an oxygen-rich flame
to produce by or subject to heat as part of a process
to copy information onto (a CD-ROM)
to convert (a lighter element) to a heavier one by nuclear fusion in a star
to discard or exchange (one or more useless cards)
to cheat, esp financially
to electrocute or be electrocuted
to drive fast (esp in the phrase go for a burn)
to commit oneself to a particular course of action with no possibility of turning back
burn the candle at both ends See candle (def. 3)
to suffer from having meddled or been rash

noun

an injury caused by exposure to heat, electrical, chemical, or radioactive agents. Burns are classified according to the depth of tissue affected: first-degree burn : skin surface painful and red; second-degree burn : blisters appear on the skin; third-degree burn : destruction of both epidermis and dermis
a mark, e.g. on wood, caused by burning
a controlled use of rocket propellant, esp for a course correction
a hot painful sensation in a muscle, experienced during vigorous exercise
a controlled fire to clear an area of scrub
tobacco or a cigarette

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