Burn Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster

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intransitive verb

1

a

: to consume fuel and give off heat, light, and gases

a small fire burns on the hearth

b

: to undergo combustion

also

: to undergo nuclear fission or nuclear fusion

c

: to contain a fire

a little stove burning in the corner

d

: to give off light : shine, glow

a light burning in the window

2

b

: to produce or undergo discomfort or pain

ears burning from the cold

c

: to become emotionally excited or agitated: such as

(1)

: to yearn ardently

burning to tell the story

(2)

: to be or become very angry or disgusted

3

a

: to undergo alteration or destruction by the action of fire or heat

the potatoes burned to a crisp

b

: to die in the electric chair

4

: to force or make a way by or as if by burning

her words burned into his heart

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to undergo combustion

especially

: to destroy by fire

2

a

: to transform by exposure to heat or fire

b

: to produce by burning

burned a hole in his sleeve

c

: to record digital data or music on (an optical disk) using a laser

also

: to record (data or music) in this way

3

a

: to injure or damage by or as if by exposure to fire, heat, or radiation : scorch

b

: to execute by burning

burned heretics at the stake

4

b

: to subject to misfortune, mistreatment, or deception

—often used in passive

c

: to beat or score on

burned the defense with a touchdown pass

1

: an act, process, instance, or result of burning: such as

a

: injury or damage resulting from exposure to fire, heat, caustics, electricity, or certain radiations

c

: an abrasion (as of the skin) having the appearance of a burn

d

: a burning sensation

the burn of iodine on a cut

2

: the firing of a rocket engine in flight

3

: anger

especially

: increasing fury

—used chiefly in the phrase slow burn

4

slang

: a cutting remark intended to embarrass or humiliate someone

—used chiefly in the phrase sick burn

But plenty of us peasants know the feeling: We have stared down an unraveling romantic relationship and wanted desperately to spew one more sick burn or two about a now-former partner.—Alana MasseyDuring a lecture on conservatism at an Ivy League university, a 65-year-old guest speaker delivered a sick burn to the president of the United States.—Amanda Arnold

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

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