Burn meaning

What does “burn” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“burn” is a noun and verb with 20 meanings. Its most common meaning is: pain that feels hot as if it were on fire.

burn

noun

  1. pain that feels hot as if it were on fire

    Synonymsburning
  2. a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun

  3. an injury caused by exposure to heat or chemicals or radiation

  4. a place or area that has been burned (especially on a person's body)

    Synonymsburn mark
  5. damage inflicted by fire

verb

  1. destroy by fire

    “They burned the house and his diaries”

  2. shine intensely, as if with heat

    “The coals were glowing in the dark”

    “The candles were burning”

    Synonymsglow
  3. undergo combustion

    “Maple wood burns well”

    Synonymscombust
  4. cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort

    “The sun burned his face”

    Synonymsbitesting
  5. cause to burn or combust

    “The sun burned off the fog”

    “We combust coal and other fossil fuels”

    Synonymscombust
  6. feel strong emotion, especially anger or passion

    “She was burning with anger”

    “He was burning to try out his new skies”

  7. cause to undergo combustion

    “burn garbage”

    “The car burns only Diesel oil”

    Synonymsincinerate
  8. execute by tying to a stake and setting alight

    “Witches were burned in Salem”

  9. spend (significant amounts of money)

    “He has money to burn”

  10. feel hot or painful

    “My eyes are burning”

  11. burn, sear, or freeze (tissue) using a hot iron or electric current or a caustic agent

    “The surgeon cauterized the wart”

  12. get a sunburn by overexposure to the sun

    Synonymssunburn
  13. create by duplicating data

    “cut a disk”

    “burn a CD”

    Synonymscut
  14. use up (energy)

    “burn off calories through vigorous exercise”

  15. damage by burning with heat, fire, or radiation

    “The iron burnt a hole in my dress”

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University