sear
sears; seared; searing; searingly
To sear something is to quickly cook or burn its surface by applying intense heat. When making beef stew, the color and flavor are usually better if you sear the meat first.
Sear comes from the Old English word searian which meant “dry up” or “wither.” Typically, the verb sear now refers to burning or scorching something with heat, but if you see the phrase “wind-seared,” it means that a place — or something left in that place — has been withered by exposure to the elements. An unpleasant image can be seared into your memory, meaning you can't forget it.
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become superficially burned
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burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color
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cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat
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make very hot and dry
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cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort
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(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
Vocabulary lists containing sear
On his eleventh birthday, orphan Harry Potter learns the shocking truth: he's a wizard about to begin his education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Yusuf Azeem, a twelve-year-old Muslim boy in rural Texas, learns to face heartache and Islamaphobia ahead of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Softball player Shenice tries to lead her team to the championships while investigating a family mystery.
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