burn
to be hurt, damaged, or destroyed by fire or extreme heat, or to cause this to happen
سوختن
He was badly burned in the blaze.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
verb (burns, burning, burnt or burned /, has burnt or has burned)
1 to make flames and heat; to be on fire:
Paper burns easily.
She escaped from the burning building.
2 to harm or destroy somebody or something with fire or heat:
I burnt my fingers on a match.
We burned the wood on the fire.
burn down, burn something down to burn, or to make a building burn, until there is nothing left:
Their house burnt down.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
burn
I. burn1 S2 W3 /bɜːn $ bɜːrn/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle burnt /bɜːnt $ bɜːrnt/ or burned)
[Word Family: noun: ↑burn, ↑burner; adjective: ↑burning, ↑burnt; verb: ↑burn; adverb: ↑burning]
[Language: Old English; Origin: byrnan 'to burn' and bærnan 'to cause to burn']
1. PRODUCE FLAMES AND HEAT [intransitive]
a) if a fire burns, it produces heat and flames:
There was a fire burning in the fireplace.
An average household candle will burn for about six hours.
b) if something is burning, it is producing flames and being damaged or destroyed by fire:
Parts of the building are still burning.
2. DESTROY SOMETHING WITH FIRE [transitive] to destroy or damage something with fire:
I burnt all his old letters.
Cars were burned and shops were looted during the rioting.
The Grand Hotel had burnt to the ground.
Make sure the iron isn’t too hot or you’ll burn the cloth.
He dropped his cigarette and burnt a hole in the carpet.
3. INJURE/KILL SOMEBODY WITH FIRE [transitive] to hurt yourself or someone else with fire or something hot:
I burned my hand on the oven door.
She was badly burned in a road accident.
Sixteen passengers were burned to death (=died in a fire).
A family of five were burned alive in their home last night (=died in a fire).
Heretics were burnt at the stake (=burnt in a fire as a punishment).
4. SUN [intransitive and transitive] if the sun burns your skin, or if your skin burns, it becomes red and painful from the heat of the sun ⇨ sunburn:
I burn quite easily.
Don’t forget you can still get burnt when you’re swimming or when it’s cloudy.
Her face and neck were quite badly burned.
5. FOOD [intransitive and transitive] to spoil food by cooking it for too long, or to become spoiled in this way:
I’m afraid I’ve burnt the pizza.
burn something to a crisp/cinder
The meat was burned to a crisp.
6. CHEMICALS [transitive] to damage or destroy something by a chemical action:
Quite a lot of household chemicals can burn your skin.
7. FUEL [intransitive and transitive] if you burn a ↑fuel, or if it burns, it is used to produce power, heat, light etc:
The boiler burns oil to produce heat.
greenhouse gases caused by the burning of fossil fuels
8. FAT/ENERGY [transitive] if you burn fat or CALORIES, you use up energy stored in your body by being physically active:
Taking a brisk walk every morning is a great way to burn calories.
a fat-burning exercise
9. LIGHT [intransitive] if a light or lamp burns, it shines or produces light:
A lamp was burning in the kitchen window.
The hall light was still burning.
10. FEEL HOT AND PAINFUL [intransitive and transitive] if a part of your body burns, or if something burns it, it feels unpleasantly hot:
The whisky burned my throat as it went down.
My eyes were burning from the smoke.
11. FACE/CHEEKS [intransitive] if your face or cheeks are burning, they feel hot because you are embarrassed or upset:
I could feel my cheeks burning as I spoke.
12. CD [transitive] if you burn a ↑CD or ↑DVD, you record music, images, or other information onto it using special computer equipment
13. be burning with rage/desire etc to feel a particular emotion very strongly:
She was burning with curiosity.
14. be burning to do something to want to do or find out something very much:
I was burning to know how he had got on in New York.
15. be/get burned informal
a) to be emotionally hurt by someone or something:
Take things slowly – don’t get burned again.
b) to lose a lot of money:
The company got badly burned in the dot.com collapse.
16. burn your fingers/get your fingers burned informal to suffer the unpleasant results of something that you have done:
I tried a dating agency once, but got my fingers badly burnt – I’ll never do it again.
17. burn a hole in your pocket if money burns a hole in your pocket, you want to spend it as soon as you can
18. burn your bridges/boats informal to do something with the result that you will not be able to return to a previous situation again, even if you want to:
I’m really tempted to take up that job offer in Washington, but I don’t want to burn my boats with this company.
19. burn the candle at both ends informal to get very tired by doing things until very late at night and getting up early in the mornings
20. burn the midnight oil informal to work or study until late at night
21. it burns somebody that/how etc American English used to say that something makes someone feel angry or jealous:
It really burns me the way they treat us.
22. GO FAST [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] informal to travel very fast
burn along/up etc
a sports car burning up the motorway
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ adverbs
▪ be badly/severely burned His face had been badly burned in the fire.
▪ be burned alive The animals were burned alive when a farm building caught fire.
■ phrases
▪ be burned to death Anyone inside the truck would have been burned to death.
▪ be burned at the stake (=burned in a fire as a punishment) In those days witches were burned at the stake.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to be burning
▪ burn to produce heat and flames: The fire was still burning. | A pile of branches was burning in the yard.
▪ be on fire if a building, car, piece of clothing etc is on fire, it is burning and being damaged: Before long, the neighbouring houses were on fire too.
▪ be alight especially written if something is alight, it is burning: By the time the fire engines got there, the whole building was already alight. | The candle was still alight.
▪ be ablaze especially written if something is ablaze, it is burning with a lot of flames, so that it is seriously damaged: Twelve hours after the bombing raid, many parts of the city were still ablaze. | The two hundred tonnes of straw were now ablaze and firefighters struggled to get the fire under control.
▪ blaze to burn very brightly with a lot of flames and heat: A big log fire was blazing in the fireplace.
▪ smoulder British English, smolder American English /ˈsməʊldə $ ˈsmoʊldər/ to burn slowly and continuously, producing smoke but no flames: A cigarette smouldered in the ashtray. | The fire in the chemical factory was so intense that it was still smouldering a week later.
▪ flicker if a fire or flame flickers, it burns with an unsteady light that appears and disappears quickly: A welcoming fire flickered in the grate. | Inside the shrine candles flicker next to statues of saints.
■ to start burning
▪ catch fire to start burning accidentally: We were worried the house would catch fire. | Two farm workers died when a barn caught fire yesterday.
▪ burst into flames to suddenly start burning and produce a lot of flames that cause serious damage: The plane crashed into the side of the mountain and burst into flames.
▪ ignite /ɪɡˈnaɪt/ technical if a chemical or gas ignites, it starts burning: The compound ignites at 450 degrees Celsius. | Scientists could not explain why the gas had suddenly ignited.
■ to burn something
▪ burn to damage or destroy something with fire or heat: She lit a fire and burned his letters one by one.
▪ set fire to something (also set something on fire) to make something start burning so that it gets damaged: Vandals set fire to an empty warehouse. | Teresa wondered if the burning log might set fire to the curtains. | The Vikings attacked villages along the coast and set them on fire. | Sparks from the fireplace could easily set the curtains on fire.
▪ scorch to damage the surface of something by burning it so that a dark mark is left on it: Having the iron on a very high heat can scorch the fabric. | The heater was left on all night and it scorched the wall.
▪ singe /sɪndʒ/ to damage hair, wool, paper etc by burning it slightly so that the ends or edges are burnt: The flames were hot enough to singe your eyebrows.
▪ scald to burn your skin with very hot liquid or steam: The coffee was so hot it nearly scalded his tongue. | It’s easy to knock a pan off the stove and scald yourself. | He was scalded by steam escaping from the broken pipe.
▪ ignite technical to make something start to burn, especially something that burns easily such as a gas or chemical: The gas is ignited by an electrical spark. | It appears he threw away a lit cigarette which ignited the petrol spilt on the ground.
■ to make something stop burning
▪ put out to make something such as a fire, cigarette, or candle stop burning: It took firefighters four hours to put out the blaze. | She threw sand on the fire to put it out. | I put out my cigarette and went back into the house.
▪ extinguish /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/ formal to make something such as a fire, cigarette, or candle stop burning: He managed to extinguish the flames with his coat. | Customers who smoke will be asked to extinguish their cigarettes or leave the premises.
▪ blow out to make a flame or fire stop burning by blowing on it: He blew out the candle and went to sleep. | The wind blew out the fire.
burn away phrasal verb
if something burns away or is burned away, it is destroyed by fire
burn something ↔ away
All her hair had been burnt away.
burn down phrasal verb
1. if a building burns down or is burned down, it is destroyed by fire:
She was worried that the house might burn down while they were away.
burn something ↔ down
The old town hall was burnt down in the 1970s.
2. if a fire burns down, the flames become weaker and it produces less heat
burn something ↔ off phrasal verb
1. to remove something by burning it:
You can use a blowlamp to burn off the old paint.
2. to use energy that is stored in your body by doing physical exercise:
I decided to go for a run to try and burn off a few calories.
burn out phrasal verb
1. if a fire burns out or burns itself out, it stops burning because there is no coal, wood etc left:
He left the fire to burn itself out.
2. be burnt out if a building or vehicle is burnt out, the inside of it is destroyed by fire:
The hotel was completely burnt out. Only the walls remained.
We passed several burnt out cars.
3. burn something ↔ out to remove something by burning it:
The cancer cells are burnt out using a laser beam.
4. to work so hard over a period of time that you become unable to continue working because you are tired, ill, or unable to think of any new ideas:
It’s a high-pressure job and you could burn out young.
be/get burnt out
He was almost burnt out by the time he was 21.
burn yourself out
She’s in danger of burning herself out. ⇨ ↑burnout(1)
5. if an engine or electric wire burns out or is burnt out, it stops working because it has been damaged by getting too hot:
The plugs are wired so that if one burns out, the others will still start the engine.
burn something ↔ out
I think you’ve burnt out one of the gaskets.
6. if a ↑rocket or ↑jet burns out, it stops working because all its ↑fuel has been used ⇨ ↑burnout(2)
burn up phrasal verb
1. if something burns up or is burnt up, it is completely destroyed by fire or heat:
The satellite will burn up as it re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere.
burn something ↔ up
Most of the woodland has now been burnt up.
2. burn something ↔ up informal to use a lot of something in a careless way:
Most household appliances burn up loads of electricity.
He just burns up money!
3. be burning up spoken if someone is burning up, they are very hot, usually because they are ill:
Feel his forehead – he’s burning up.
4. burn somebody up American English informal to make someone very angry:
The way he treats her really burns me up.
5. burn something ↔ up to use energy that is stored in your body, by being physically active:
As we get older, our body becomes less efficient at burning up calories.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
burn
burn [burn burns burned burnt burning] verb, noun [bɜːn] [bɜːrn]
verb (burnt, burnt [bɜːnt] ; [bɜːrnt] ) or (burned, burned [bɜːnd] ; [bɜːrnd] )
FIRE
1. intransitive to produce flames and heat
• A welcoming fire was burning in the fireplace.
• Fires were burning all over the city.
2. intransitive (used especially in the progressive tenses) to be on fire
• By nightfall the whole city was burning.
• Two children were rescued from the burning car.
• The smell of burning rubber filled the air.
3. transitive, intransitive to destroy, damage, injure or kill sb/sth by fire; to be destroyed, etc. by fire
• ~ (sb/sth) to burn waste paper/dead leaves
• All his belongings were burnt in the fire.
• The cigarette burned a hole in the carpet.
• The house was burnt to the ground (= completely destroyed).
• The house burned to the ground.
• Ten people burned to death in the hotel fire.
• ~ sb/sth + adj. His greatest fear is of being burnt alive.
FUEL
4. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) if you burn a fuel, or a fuel burns, it produces heat, light or energy
• a furnace that burns gas/oil/coke
• (figurative) Some people burn calories (= use food to produce energy) faster than others.
• Which fuel burns most efficiently?
FOOD
5. intransitive, transitive if food burns, or if you burn it, it is spoiled because it gets too hot
• I can smell something burning in the kitchen.
• ~ sth Sorry— I burnt the toast.
SUN/HEAT/ACID
6. intransitive, transitive to be damaged or injured by the sun, heat, acid, etc; to damage or injure sb/sth in this way
• My skin burns easily (= in the sun).
• ~ sb I got badly burned by the sun yesterday.
• ~ sth The soup's hot. Don't burn your mouth.
• ~ yourself I burned myself on the stove.
OF PART OF BODY
7. intransitive if part of your body burns or is burning, it feels very hot and painful
• Your forehead's burning. Have you got a fever?
• Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
OF A LIGHT
8. intransitive to produce light
• Lights were burning upstairs, but no one answered the door.
FEEL EMOTION/DESIRE
9. intransitive, transitive (literary) to feel a very strong emotion or desire
• ~ with sth to be burning with rage/ambition/love
• ~ to do sth He was burning to go climbing again.
GO FAST
10. intransitive + adv./prep. (informal) to move very fast in a particular direction
• The car was burning down the road.
MAKE ANGRY
11. transitive ~ sb (NAmE, informal) to make sb very angry
• So you did it just to burn me?
CD, ETC.
12. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) (to sth) to put information onto a CD, etc.
more at sb's ears are burning at ear, feel your ears burning at feel v., have money to burn at money
Word Origin:
v. and n. senses 1 to 2 Old English birnan ‘be on fire’ bærnan ‘consume by fire’ Germanic German brennen
n. sense 3 Old English burna burn(e) Germanic Dutch bron German Brunnen ‘well’
Thesaurus:
burn verb
1. I
• The whole city was burning.
be on fire • • go up • • blaze • |BrE smoulder • |AmE smolder •
a fire/bonfire/log burns/blazes/smoulders
a building/house burns/is on fire/goes up
burn/blaze fiercely
2. T, I
• He burned all her letters.
set fire to sth • • set sth on fire • • torch • • scorch • • singe • • char • • sear • • scald • • cremate • |formal incinerate •
burn/set fire to/torch/scald yourself
burn/set fire to/scorch/singe your hair/your clothes
burn/set fire to/torch a car/building
Synonyms:
burn
char • scald • scorch • singe
These words all mean to damage, injure, destroy or kill sb/sth with heat or fire.
burn • to damage, injure, destroy or kill sb/sth with fire, heat or acid; to be damaged, etc. by fire, heat or acid: ▪ She burned all his letters. ◊ ▪ The house ▪ burned down ▪ in 1995.
char • [usually passive] to make sth black by burning it; to become black by burning: ▪ The bodies had been charred beyond recognition.
scald • to burn part of your body with very hot liquid or steam.
scorch • to burn and slightly damage a surface by making it too hot: ▪ I scorched my dress when I was ironing it.
singe • to burn the surface of sth slightly, usually by mistake; to be burnt in this way: ▪ He singed his hair as he tried to light his cigarette.
scorch or singe?
Things are scorched by heat or fire. Things can only be singed by fire or a flame.
to burn/scald yourself/your hand
to burn/scorch/singe your hair/clothes
burned out/charred/scorched remains/ruins/buildings
Synonyms:
hurt
ache • burn • sting • tingle • itch • throb
These are all words that can be used when part of your body feels painful.
hurt • (of part of your body) to feel painful; (of an action) to cause pain: ▪ My feet hurt. ◊ ▪ Ouch! That hurt!
ache • to feel a continuous dull pain: ▪ I'm aching all over.
burn • (of part of your body) to feel very hot and painful: ▪ Our eyes were burning from the chemicals in the air.
sting • to make sb feel a sharp burning pain or uncomfortable feeling in part of their body; (of part of your body) to feel this pain: ▪ My eyes were stinging from the smoke.
tingle • (of part of your body) to feel as if a lot of small sharp points are pushing into the skin there: ▪ The cold air made her face tingle.
itch • to have an uncomfortable feeling on your skin that makes you want to scratch; to make your skin feel like this: ▪ I itch all over. ◊ ▪ Does the rash itch?
throb • (of part of your body) to feel pain as a series of regular beats: ▪ His head throbbed painfully.
your eyes hurt/ache/burn/sting/itch
your skin hurts/burns/stings/tingles/itches
your flesh hurts/burns/stings/tingles
your head hurts/aches/throbs
your stomach hurts/aches
to really hurt/ache/burn/sting/tingle/itch/throb
to hurt/ache/sting/itch badly/a lot
It hurts/stings/tingles/itches.
Example Bank:
• Bishop Tunstall preached a sermon against the book, after which copies were ceremonially burnt.
• Fresh leaves will burn slowly with billows of smoke.
• He was burning with indignation.
• Her eyes burned fiercely.
• Her skin seemed to burn at his touch.
• His cheeks burned with embarrassment.
• I like my steak burnt to a cinder on the outside and blood red and juicy inside.
• Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.
• Several people were burned to death.
• She could sense the anger burning slowly inside him.
• The building was burned to the ground.
• The car was found abandoned in a wood, completely burnt out.
• The factory burned down last year.
• The fire was still burning fiercely.
• The tower was struck by lightning and was burned to a cinder.
• Their torches burned brightly in the dark.
• fair skin that burns easily
• hot sunshine burning through the windows
• By night the whole city was burning.
• His greatest fear is of being burnt alive.
• Our eyes were burning from the chemicals in the air.
• Protesters threatened to burn down the house.
• She burned all his letters.
• Sorry— I burned the toast.
• The flame in the oil lamp burned steadily.
• The house burned down in 1995.
• The house was burnt to the ground by protesters.
• The soup's hot. Don't burn your mouth.
• The spacecraft burned up as it entered the earth's atmosphere.
• Your forehead's burning. Have you got a fever?
Idioms: burn a hole in your pocket ▪ burn rubber ▪ burn something to a crisp ▪ burn the candle at both ends ▪ burn the midnight oil ▪ burn your bridges ▪ burn your fingers ▪ get your fingers burnt
Derived: burn away ▪ burn down ▪ burn itself out ▪ burn out ▪ burn somebody up ▪ burn something away ▪ burn something down ▪ burn something off ▪ burn something out ▪ burn something up ▪ burn up ▪ burn yourself out
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
burn / bɜːn / / bɝːn / verb ( burnt or burned , burnt or burned ) (DAMAGE)
B1 [ I or T ] to be hurt, damaged, or destroyed by fire or extreme heat, or to cause this to happen:
He was badly burned in the blaze.
She burned his old love letters.
The brandy burned (= felt too hot on) my throat.
On her first day in the Caribbean Josie was badly burned (= her skin became red and painful from too much sun) .
Fair-skinned people burn easily in the sun.
Unable to escape, six people were burned alive /burned to death (= died by burning) in the building.
The vegetables were burned to a crisp (= badly burned) .
[ T always passive ] to cause emotional pain or damage to someone burn sb at the stake
to kill someone by tying them to a post and burning them
burn sth to the ground to completely destroy a building by fire:
The building was burned to the ground ten years ago.
burn / bɜːn / / bɝːn / verb [ I ] ( burnt or burned , burnt or burned ) (PRODUCE FLAMES)
B1 to be on fire, or to produce flames:
The wood was wet and would not burn.
Helplessly we watched our house burning.
A fire was burning brightly in the fireplace.
burn / bɜːn / / bɝːn / verb [ I ] ( burnt or burned , burnt or burned ) (PRODUCE LIGHT)
to produce light:
I saw a light burning in her window.
burn / bɜːn / / bɝːn / verb [ I ] ( burnt or burned , burnt or burned ) (FEEL HOT)
If your face burns, it feels very hot:
His face burned with embarrassment/shame/anger.
burn / bɜːn / / bɝːn / verb [ + to infinitive ] ( burnt or burned , burnt or burned ) (WANT)
to want to do something very much:
She was burning to tell us her news.
burn / bɜːn / / bɝːn / verb [ T ] ( burnt or burned , burnt or burned ) (COPY)
B2 to copy information, recorded music, images, etc. onto a CD:
Burn your favourite songs or your important files onto CDs.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
burn
[bɜ͟ː(r)n]
♦♦
burns, burning, burned, burnt
(The past tense and past participle is burned in American English, and burned or burnt in British English.)
1) VERB If there is a fire or a flame somewhere, you say that there is a fire or flame burning there.
Fires were burning out of control in the center of the city...
There was a fire burning in the large fireplace...
The furnace has a design that allows the flame to burn at a lower temperature.
2) VERB If something is burning, it is on fire.
When I arrived one of the vehicles was still burning...
The building housed 1,500 refugees and it burned for hours...
[V-ing] That boy was rescued from a burning house.
Derived words:
burning N-UNCOUNT When we arrived in our village there was a terrible smell of burning.
3) VERB If you burn something, you destroy or damage it with fire.
[V n] Protesters set cars on fire and burned a building...
[V n] Incineration plants should be built to burn household waste...
[V n] Coal fell out of the fire, and burned the carpet.
Derived words:
burning N-UNCOUNT The French government has criticized the burning of a US flag outside the American Embassy.
4) V-ERG If you burn a fuel or if it burns, it is used to produce heat, light, or energy.
[V n] The power stations burn coal from the Ruhr region...
Manufacturers are working with new fuels to find one that burns more cleanly than petrol.
5) V-ERG If you burn something that you are cooking or if it burns, you spoil it by using too great a heat.
[V n] I burnt the toast...
Watch them carefully as they finish cooking because they can burn easily.
Derived words:
burnt ADJ-GRADED ...the smell of burnt toast.
6) VERB If you burn part of your body, burn yourself, or are burnt, you are injured by fire or by something very hot.
[V n] Take care not to burn your fingers...
[be V-ed] If you are badly burnt, seek medical attention. [Also V pron-refl]
N-COUNT
Burn is also a noun. She suffered appalling burns to her back.
7) VERB: usu passive If someone is burnt or burnt to death, they are killed by fire.
[be V-ed as n] Women were burned as witches in the middle ages...
[be V-ed to n] At least 80 people were burnt to death when their bus caught fire.
8) VERB If a light is burning, it is shining. [LITERARY]
The building was darkened except for a single light burning in a third-story window.
9) VERB: usu cont If your face is burning, it is red because you are embarrassed or upset.
Liz's face was burning.
10) VERB If you are burning with an emotion or are burning to do something, you feel that emotion or the desire to do that thing very strongly.
[V with n] The young boy was burning with a fierce ambition...
[V to-inf] Dan burned to know what the reason could be.
11) V-ERG If you burn or get burned in the sun, the sun makes your skin become red and sore.
Build up your tan slowly and don't allow your skin to burn. [Also V n]
12) V-ERG If a part of your body burns or if something burns it, it has a painful, hot or stinging feeling.
My eyes burn from staring at the needle...
[V with n] His face was burning with cold.
[V n] ...delicious Indian recipes which won't burn your throat.
13) VERB: usu passive If you are burned or get burned, you lose something as a result of taking a risk, usually in a business deal. [INFORMAL]
[be/get V-ed] They always took chances and got burned very badly in past years.
14) → See also burning
15) to burn the candle at both ends → see candle
to get your fingers burned → see finger
to burn something to the ground → see ground
to burn the midnight oil → see midnight
to have money to burn → see money
Phrasal Verbs:
- burn down
- burn off
- burn out
- burn up
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
1burn /ˈbɚn/ verb burns; burned /ˈbɚnd/ or burnt /ˈbɚnt/; burn·ing
✦The forms burned and burnt are used in both U.S. and British English. Burned is more common in U.S. English; burnt is more common in British English.
1 [no obj]
a of a fire or flame : to give off heat, light, and gases
• A flame is kept constantly burning at the monument.
• A small fire burned brightly in the fireplace.
b always used in progressive tenses : to contain a fire
• There was a little stove burning in the front room.
- see also burning
2 a always used in progressive tenses [no obj] : to be on fire : to have or produce a flame
• I could smell smoke and knew that something was burning.
• Be sure not to leave any candles burning when you go to bed.
b [+ obj] : to set (something) on fire : to make (something) have or produce a flame
• We came to the memorial to burn [=light] a candle for the victims of the accident.
3 a : to destroy or damage (something) by fire or heat
[+ obj]
• I burned the letter when I had finished reading it.
• The new town law makes it illegal to burn trash.
• The wildfire has burned acres of forest.
• Parts of the house were badly burned in the fire.
• burnt pieces of wood
[no obj]
• The wood burned slowly.
• a material that burns easily
✦A building or other structure that burns to the ground or is burned to the ground is completely destroyed by fire.
• The house (was) burned to the ground in the fire.
b : to injure or damage (someone or a part of the body) by fire, heat, acid, etc.
[+ obj]
• He was badly burned in the accident.
• She burned her hand on the hot stove. = The hot stove burned her hand.
• The hot sun burned her skin.
• I burned myself on the iron. [=I injured part of my body with the hot iron]
• Several people were trapped in the building and were burned to death. [=were killed by fire]
• The captives were burned alive. [=killed by being set on fire]
[no obj]
• She has to stay out of the sun because her skin burns easily. [=she gets sunburned easily]
• Several people burned to death in the fire.
4 : to ruin (food) by cooking it too long or with too much heat
[+ obj]
• I'm afraid I burned the potatoes.
• She burned the toast.
• burnt toast
[no obj]
• The toast burned.
5 a of an acid, chemical, etc. : to damage (something) by causing a strong chemical reaction
[+ obj]
• The acid burned his hand.
[no obj]
• The acid burned into/through the metal.
- sometimes used figuratively
• Her words burned themselves into his memory. = Her words were burned into his memory. [=he always remembered her words]
• The image is burned in my mind. [=I cannot forget the image]
b [+ obj] : to produce (something, such as a hole) by fire, heat, acid, etc.
• He dropped his cigarette and accidentally burned a hole in the carpet.
• The acid burned a hole in the cloth.
✦If you have money and you want to spend it, the money is burning a hole in your pocket.
• He just got his tax refund and has some extra cash burning a hole in his pocket.
6 always used in progressive tenses [no obj] : to be very hot
• The pavement was burning.
- see also burning
7 a : to have or produce an unpleasantly hot and painful feeling
[+ obj]
• The hot peppers burned my mouth.
• The cigarette smoke burned my throat and made my eyes water.
[no obj]
• My mouth is still burning from the hot peppers.
• The iodine burned a little when I put it on the cut.
b [no obj] : to feel a pain that is like being injured by heat or fire
• My nose was bright red and my ears were burning from the cold.
c always used in progressive tenses [no obj] : to have a high fever
• She was burning with fever.
- often + up
• I'm going to call the doctor: you're burning up!
- see also burn up (below), burning
8 [no obj]
a : to feel a strong emotion - often + with
• She was burning with anger at his rudeness. [=she was very angry because of his rudeness]
• As a young man he burned with ambition. [=he was very ambitious]
- sometimes + for
• She was burning for a chance to prove herself. [=she wanted very much to get a chance to prove herself]
- sometimes followed by to + verb
• She was burning to prove herself.
b : to become hot and red because of a strong emotion
• Her cheeks were burning.
- often + with
• Her cheeks were burning with shame.
• His face burned with anger/embarrassment.
9 [+ obj] US informal
a : to cheat or deceive (someone) : to take advantage of (someone) - usually used as (be) burned
• He doesn't like giving interviews because he's been/gotten burned by reporters in the past. [=reporters have treated him unfairly in the past]
• He's been burned in love before.
b : to make (someone) very angry
• It really burns me to see people being treated so badly.
- usually + up
• His arrogance really burns me up!
- see also burn up (below)
10 a [no obj] : to be used as fuel
• Some kinds of coal burn better than others.
b [+ obj] : to use (something) as fuel
• This furnace burns oil/gas.
- often + up
• an engine that burns up more fuel
c [+ obj] : to use (food, calories, etc.) as a source of energy
• Our bodies burn food/calories.
• exercising to burn fat [=exercising to lose fat by using it to produce energy]
- often + off or up
• exercising to burn off/up calories/fat
• Your body burns up more oxygen when you are active than when you are resting.
- see also burn off (below), burn up (below)
11 [no obj] : to give off light : to shine or glow
• There was a light burning in the window.
• a star that burns brightly in the evening sky
• Lanterns burned in the boats on the canal.
12 [+ obj] computers : to record information or music on a disk
• burn a CD/DVD
• You can buy the songs online and then burn them onto a CD.
burn away [phrasal verb] burn away or burn (something) away or burn away (something) : to be removed or to remove (something) by fire or heat
• The outer layer of wooden shingles burned away quickly in the fire. = The fire quickly burned the outer layer of wooden shingles away.
burn down [phrasal verb]
1 burn down or burn (something) down or burn down (something) of a building or other structure : to be destroyed or to destroy (something) by fire
• The hotel burned down [=burned to the ground] in 1922. = A fire in 1922 burned down the hotel.
2 burn down of a fire : to become smaller : to gradually produce less and less flame
• We watched the fire as it slowly burned down.
burn off [phrasal verb] burn off or burn (something) off or burn off (something)
1 US of fog, smoke, etc. : to go away because of the sun's heat
• We waited for the fog to burn off. = We waited for the sun to burn off the fog.
2 : to be removed or to remove (something) by fire or heat
• The hot sun had burned the paint off the sign years before.
- see also 1burn 10c (above)
burn out [phrasal verb]
1 burn out or burn (itself) out of a fire : to stop burning
• The campfire eventually burned out. = The campfire eventually burned itself out.
- sometimes used figuratively
• His anger finally burned itself out. [=he finally stopped being angry]
2 burn (a building) out or burn out (a building) : to destroy the inside of (a building) by fire
• The apartment building was completely burned out by the fire.
- see also burned out 1
3 burn out or burn (something) out or burn out (something) : to stop working or cause (something) to stop working because of too much use or careless use
• The engine burned out.
• If you keep running the engine like that you're going to burn it out.
4 burn out or burn (someone) out also burn out (someone) : to become or cause (someone) to become very physically and emotionally tired after doing a difficult job for a long time : to suffer burnout or cause (someone) to suffer burnout
• Teaching can be very stressful, and many teachers eventually burn out. = Teaching can be very stressful, and many teachers eventually burn themselves out.
• All that hard work burned her out eventually.
- see also burned out 2
burn rubber
- see 1rubber
burn the candle at both ends : to do too much by being active late at night and during the day
• She's going to wear herself out if she keeps burning the candle at both ends.
burn the midnight oil : to work or study until very late at night
• The students have been burning the midnight oil as they prepare for their final exams.
burn through [phrasal verb] burn through (something) informal : to use all of (something) quickly
• They've burned through 2 million dollars already, and the renovations are far from complete.
burn up [phrasal verb] burn up or burn (something) up or burn up (something) : to be destroyed or cause (something) to be destroyed by fire
• Most asteroids burn up upon entering the Earth's atmosphere.
• Wildfires have been raging across the region burning up acres of forest.
- see also 1burn 7c 9b 10b c (above)
burn your bridges also Brit burn your boats : to do something that makes you unable to go back to a previous situation
• Even after leaving his job, he tried to stay on friendly terms with his former boss because he didn't want to burn his bridges.
crash and burn
- see 1crash
money to burn
- see money
- burn·able /ˈbɚnəbəl/ adj [more ~; most ~]
• an easily burnable material
