- serving to burn or char the surface of something, especially of food in order to seal in the juices before cooking: Sizzle the rump steak over white-hot coals, under a searing grill, or in a blistering griddle pan.
- burning or scorching: The charge exploded prematurely and the truck was engulfed in searing flames.
- sharp, penetrating, and severe, like the feeling of being burned: For weeks now I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night with searing pain in my ankles.Her recent documentary was a searing indictment of the crimes of Stalinism.
- withering or parching: Grass that’s allowed to grow long is like a living mulch, protecting and shielding the root system from the searing heat of summer.
- leaving a permanent emotional scar: He was never to recover from the searing experience of what he saw in the war.
- the act of burning or charring the surface of something, especially of food: The searing of the vegetables and meat should be done over a very hot burner and with excellent ventilation.
- the act of branding or marking with a hot iron: One of his arms was branded like that of a convict, the flesh still swollen from the searing of the iron.
- the act of hardening or scarring emotionally, or the resulting condition: Were it not for the searing of their conscience, they would realize that what they’re doing is wrong.
- sharp, penetrating, severe pain: I tried to ignore the searing in my muscles after hours of paddling against the current.
