scald

¹

[ skawld ]

verb (used with object)

1. to burn or affect painfully with or as if with hot liquid or steam.
2. to subject to the action of boiling or hot liquid.
3. to heat to a temperature just short of the boiling point:

   to scald milk.

4. to parboil or blanch (fruit, vegetables, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to be or become scalded.

noun

1. a burn caused by the action of hot liquid or steam.
2. any similar condition, especially as the result of too much heat or sunlight.
3. Plant Pathology.
   1. a blanching of the epidermis and adjacent tissues, which turn pale or dark brown, caused by extreme heat or sun exposure.
   2. a condition resembling scald caused by improper conditions of growth or storage, as in apples, or by fungi, as in cranberries.

scald

²

[ skawld ]

adjective

1. Also scalled. scabby; covered with scurf.

noun

1. a scab.

scald

¹

/ skɔːld /

noun

1. a variant spelling of skald

scald

²

/ skɔːld /

verb

1. to burn or be burnt with or as if with hot liquid or steam
2. tr to subject to the action of boiling water, esp so as to sterilize
3. tr to heat (a liquid) almost to boiling point
4. tr to plunge (tomatoes, peaches, etc) into boiling water briefly in order to skin them more easily

noun

1. the act or result of scalding
2. an abnormal condition in plants, characterized by discoloration and wrinkling of the skin of the fruits, caused by exposure to excessive sunlight, gases, etc

scald

³

/ skɔːld /

adjective

1. scabby

noun

1. a scab or a skin disease producing scabs

Derived Forms

• ˈscalder, noun

Other Words From

• non·scalding adjective
• un·scalded adjective
• un·scalding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scald¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb scalde(n), scolde(n), from Anglo-Latin scal(a)dāre, escaudāre, and Old French eschalder, eschauder, from Late Latin excaldāre “to wash in hot water”; ex- ¹, caldarium

Origin of scald²

First recorded in 1490–1500; scall + -ed ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of scald¹

C13: via Old Norman French from Late Latin excaldāre to wash in warm water, from calida ( aqua ) warm (water), from calēre to be warm

Origin of scald²

C16: from scall

Example Sentences

A post-mortem examination found Sara had suffered injuries including "probable human bite marks", an iron burn and scalding from hot water before she died on 8 August 2023.

From BBC

Fergison said she was dousing herself in scalding water daily as she tried to "wash" away the cancer cells.

From BBC

A post-mortem examination found Sara had suffered dozens of injuries including "probable human bite marks", an iron burn and scalding from hot water before she died on 8 August 2023.

From BBC

The court previously heard that Sara had suffered puncture wounds, burns, bruising and abrasions, and a post-mortem examination found Sara had "probable human bite marks", an iron burn and scalding from hot water.

From BBC

She suffered puncture wounds, burns, bruising and abrasions, and a post-mortem examination found Sara had "probable human bite marks", an iron burn and scalding from hot water.

From BBC