sear

¹ American  

[seer] / sɪər /

verb (used with object)

1. to burn or char the surface of.

   She seared the steak to seal in the juices.

2. to mark with a branding iron.

3. to burn or scorch injuriously or painfully.

   He seared his hand on a hot steam pipe.

4. to harden or scar emotionally.

   The traumatic experiences of her youth have permanently seared her.

5. to dry up or wither; parch.

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verb (used without object)

1. to become dry or withered, as vegetation.

noun

1. a mark or scar made by searing.

adjective

1. sere.

sear ² American  

[seer] / sɪər /

noun

1. a pivoted piece that holds the hammer at full cock or half cock in the firing mechanism of small arms.

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sear ¹ British  

/ sɪə /

verb

1. to scorch or burn the surface of

2. to brand with a hot iron

3. to cause to wither or dry up

4. rare  to make callous or unfeeling

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noun

1. a mark caused by searing

adjective

1. poetic  dried up

sear ² British  

/ sɪə /

noun

1. the catch in the lock of a small firearm that holds the hammer or firing pin cocked

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Related Words

See burn ¹.

Other Word Forms

• unseared adjective

Etymology

Origin of sear¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective ser(e), Old English sēar; cognate with Dutch zoor; the verb is derivative of the adjective

Origin of sear²

First recorded in 1550–60; from Middle French serre “a grip,” derivative of serrer “to lock up, close,” ultimately from Late Latin serāre “to bar (a door)”

Example Sentences

An explosive opening day of searing pace saw an astonishing 19 wickets tumble.

From Barron's

Firefighters halted it quickly at 72 acres, but many trees had already been seared.

From Los Angeles Times

For the last decade, Teen Vogue has been an unexpected source of some of the most searing progressive political analysis in American media.

From Salon

Yu, who trains in Hebei and juggles swimming with her school work, took up the sport when she was six as a means of escaping China's searing summer heat.

From Barron's

That Anderson included them in this searingly political narrative as a heroic force felt validating.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blight
• scorch
• sizzle
• toast