burn - Definition & Meaning | Lingo Dictionary

burn

Third Person

burns

Present Participle

burning

Past Tense

burned

Past Participle

burned

(of fire) to actively make heat and flames by using up things like coal or wood

The campfire slowly began to burn as the logs caught fire.
The bonfire burned fiercely, lighting up the night sky.
The wildfire burned uncontrollably, devouring everything in its path.

Synonyms:

light [catch] (on|) fire ignite combust light up spark [take] fire

to be on fire and be destroyed by it

The building burned fiercely, sending plumes of smoke into the sky.
The paper caught fire and burned quickly in the flames.
The forest burned for days, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
The old photographs burned in the house fire, lost forever in the flames.
The dry leaves in the yard easily burned when a small flame touched them.

Synonyms:

fire burn down

to cause destruction or harm to something or someone through extreme heat or fire

transitive

She accidentally burned the her finger while making breakfast.
He burned his hand on the hot stove while cooking dinner.
She accidentally burned her hand while cooking.

Synonyms:

incinerate

to become red, inflamed, or painful on the skin as a result of prolonged exposure to the sun

transitive

After spending hours at the beach, she burned her shoulders and back.
He forgot to apply sunscreen and ended up burning his face.
She burned her arms while hiking without wearing any protective clothing.
She covered up immediately to avoid burning her skin any further.

Synonyms:

sunburn

to consume fuel for the production of heat or energy

transitive

The furnace burns coal to produce heat for the entire building.
The car engine burns gasoline to power the vehicle.
They burn wood in the fireplace to keep warm during the winter months.
The power plant burns natural gas to generate electricity for the city.
The engine burns diesel fuel to run the truck's systems.

Synonyms:

burn up burn off

to emit or produce light

The streetlights burned through the fog, illuminating the path ahead.
The lamp burned for hours, giving off a soft, soothing light.
The candle burned steadily, providing just enough light for the room.
The small lantern burned through the evening, providing light as the power went out.
The oil lamp burned quietly on the table, casting shadows on the walls.

Synonyms:

glow

to cause a sensation of discomfort or pain similar to that of being burned by fire

transitive

The wind chill burned his face, making it feel raw and painful.
The hot soup burned my tongue when I tried to take a sip.
The harsh shampoo burned her scalp, making her wince.
The bright light from the flashbulb burned my eyes for a moment.
The spicy food burned his mouth, making it feel like fire.

Synonyms:

bite sting

to experience or be consumed by strong emotions

His heart burned with anger when he heard the news of the betrayal.
His desire for success burned inside him, pushing him to work harder every day.
The injustice of the situation made him burn with rage.
His desire for revenge burned in his mind, overshadowing all rational thoughts.
She burned with excitement as she awaited the announcement of the winner.

to make something catch fire and undergo combustion

transitive

He used a match to burn the paper and watch it disintegrate in the flames.
You should never burn plastic, as it releases toxic fumes when it combusts.
The arsonist intentionally burned the building down with a gas-soaked rag.
She carefully burned the pile of leaves to clear the yard.
The campfire started when he used dry kindling to burn the wood.

Synonyms:

combust

to cauterize tissue by using a hot iron, electric current, or caustic substance

transitive

The surgeon used a cauterizing tool to burn the tissue and stop the bleeding.
After the injury, the doctor had to burn the tissue to prevent infection.
The specialist decided to burn the affected tissue with an electric current for better healing.
The wound was treated by burning the tissue with a hot instrument to seal it.
The procedure required the surgeon to burn the tissue using high heat.

Synonyms:

cauterize cauterise

to feel sore or painful, often as a result of injury

The chemical cleaner caused his hands to burn as soon as he touched it.
The acidic lemon juice made a cut on his finger burn terribly.
His eyes began to burn from the smoke in the air.
The spicy curry caused his mouth to burn, but he couldn’t stop eating.
The hot pepper made her tongue burn with an intense, fiery sensation.

to squander or waste money, time, or other resources recklessly

transitive

They ended up burning a lot of money on poorly planned investments.
She realized she had been burning money by buying things she didn't really need.
The company burned a lot of resources on a project that never even got off the ground.
He was frustrated after watching the business burn money without seeing any return.
She regretted burning so much money on impulse purchases over the years.

to execute someone by tying them to a stake and setting them on fire

transitive

In the past, heretics were often burned at the stake for their beliefs.
The cruel practice of burning witches at the stake was common during the medieval period.
The town square was the site where many were burned at the stake for alleged crimes.
History remembers the tragic stories of those who were burned at the stake during the Inquisition.

to create a CD or DVD by copying data from an original or master copy onto a blank disc

transitive

She burned a copy of the album to give to her friend as a gift.
He burned a backup of the important files onto a DVD in case of a computer crash.
The technician burned the software onto a disk for the client.
They burned the movie onto a DVD so they could watch it on the TV.
She burned a special compilation of family videos to share with relatives.

Synonyms:

cut

(poker) to discard the top card from the deck face down before dealing the flop, turn, and river cards, in order to prevent cheating by revealing the top card accidentally or intentionally

transitive

Before revealing the flop, the dealer burned a card to ensure fairness.
The poker player watched closely as the dealer burned a card before each new round.
They had to burn a card after every shuffle to maintain the integrity of the game.
In high-stakes poker, it's crucial to burn cards properly to prevent cheating.
He noticed the dealer burned a card before showing the river to keep the game honest.

to use calories as energy through physical activity or bodily processes

Dancing burns calories while also being fun.
She burned a lot of calories during her morning workout.
He has burned more calories this week than last.
Swimming burns a lot of calories while being easy on the joints.
Running for an hour can burn up to 600 calories.

to cook something thoroughly or to a preferred well-done state

I like to burn my steak so it's crispy on the outside.
Go ahead and burn it; the edges taste amazing that way.
She burns the edges of her toast for extra flavor.
He told the chef to burn it, just like he likes his toast.
I always burn the pizza slightly for a perfect crunch.