singe

[ sinj ]

verb (used with object)

, singed, singe·ing.

1. to burn superficially or slightly; scorch.

   Synonyms: char

2. to burn the ends, projections, nap, or the like, of (hair, cloth, etc.).
3. to subject (the carcass of an animal or bird) to flame in order to remove hair, bristles, feathers, etc.

noun

1. a superficial burn.
2. the act of singeing.

singe

/ sɪndʒ /

verb

1. to burn or be burnt superficially; scorch

   to singe one's clothes

2. tr to burn the ends of (hair, etc)
3. tr to expose (a carcass) to flame to remove bristles or hair

noun

1. a superficial burn

Other Words From

• singe·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of singe¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English sengen (verb), Old English sencgan; cognate with Dutch zengen, German sengen; akin to Old Norse sangr “singed, burnt”

Word History and Origins

Origin of singe¹

Old English sengan; related to Middle High German sengen to singe, Dutch sengel spark, Norwegian sengla to smell of burning, Swedish sjängla to singe, Icelandic sāngr

Synonym Study

See burn ¹.

Example Sentences

The conflagration in Congress is spreading to singe, if not consume, critical decisions across the board.

From The Daily Beast

So Obama and the Democrats should spend part of next week dispelling the five myths that have the potential to singe.

From The Daily Beast

Remove all the feathers, singe it over the fire, and wipe the chicken with a wet towel.

From Project Gutenberg

Should the heel become worn out, apply tar or pitch, and singe with a hot iron.

From Project Gutenberg

The sing of I sing is the correspondent of the Anglo-Saxon singe; the infinitive sing, of singan; the imperative sing of sing.

From Project Gutenberg

Father Meadow-Mouse would every now and then blow his nose and exclaim, "Well, singe my whiskers and twist my tail!"

From Project Gutenberg

The next step in preparing a chicken for cooking, therefore, is to singe it, or burn off these hairs.

From Project Gutenberg