26984 words

burn

27 definitions • 36 examples
1
to be hurt, damaged, or destroyed by fire or extreme heat, or to cause this to happen:

Examples:

He was badly burned in the blaze.
She burned his old love letters.
be burned alive Unable to escape, six people were burned alive (= died by burning) in the building.
burn to death If someone falls into that firepit, they could burn to death.
2
to damage food by cooking it for too long or with too much heat, or to be damaged in this way:

Examples:

I've burnt the sausages.
If the top of the cake starts to burn, cover it with foil.
Is something burning in the kitchen?
3
If the sun burns you or if you burn, your skin becomes red and damaged because of the sun's heat. :

Examples:

Use sun cream or you'll burn.
I've burned the tops of my shoulders.
4
to cause emotional pain or damage to someone
5
to kill someone by tying the person to a post and burning them:

Examples:

He refused to convert and was burned at the stake.
6

Examples:

The building was burned to the ground ten years ago.
7
to burn something badly so that it is black and very dry:

Examples:

I forgot about the lasagne and it was burned to a crisp.
8
to be on fire, or to produce flames:

Examples:

The wood was wet and would not burn.
Helplessly we watched our house burning.
A fire was burning brightly in the fireplace.
9
to use something such as fuel or energy:

Examples:

The refrigerated trucks that carry the produce burn a lot of fossil fuel.
Racers can burn 10,000 calories and lose two gallons of sweat while competing.
10

Examples:

I saw a light burning in her window.
11
If your face or skin burns or if something burns it, it feels very hot:

Examples:

His face burned with embarrassment/shame.
The brandy burned my throat.
12
to want to do something very much:

Examples:

She was burning to tell us her news.
13
to copy information, recorded music, images, etc. onto a CD:

Examples:

Burn your favourite songs or your important files onto CDs.
14
a place where fire or heat has hurt or damaged something:

Examples:

15
16
an insult or criticism, usually a clever and funny one:

Examples:

She said you were too old for her? Ooh, burn!
17
to produce flames and heat:

Examples:

[ I ] A fire still burned in the fireplace.
18
If something burns a fuel, it uses that fuel to produce energy:

Examples:

[ I ] Some new fuels burn more efficiently than gasoline.
[ M ] Running is a good way to burn off calories.
19
to hurt, damage, or destroy something by fire or extreme heat:

Examples:

She burned her hand on the hot iron.
People still burn trash although it’s illegal.
The toast was burned to a crisp (= burned until it was black).
20
infml If you are burned by an activity, you are hurt emotionally or financially because of it:

Examples:

He got burned in an investment and lost a lot of money.
21
a place where fire or heat has hurt or damaged something:

Examples:

One worker had severe burns on his face and hands.
22
to copy information, recorded music, images, etc. onto a CD:

Examples:

burn sth to/onto sth The service allows consumers to download a movie, but not to burn it onto a DVD.
23
to lose money in a business deal:

Examples:

Many investors were badly burned.
24
if money is burning a hole in your pocket, you are very eager to spend it
25
to work very hard as well as doing other things such as going out late at night, so that you get very little rest
26
to work late into the night
27
to lose money in a high-risk business deal:

Examples:

We've had our fingers burned in the past by holding too many risky stocks.

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