sear
sear /ˈsɪr/
adjective
-
(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
(
dried-up
, sear
, sere
, shrivelled
[Canadian, British] , shriveled
[American] , withered
)
(used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
Dried-up grass
dried-up grass
The desert was edged with sere vegetation
the desert was edged with sere vegetation
Shriveled leaves on the unwatered seedlings
shriveled leaves on the unwatered seedlings
Withered vines
withered vines
verb
-
(
)
Make very hot and dry
(
scorch
, sear
)
make very hot and dry
The heat scorched the countryside
The heat scorched the countryside
-
Cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat
(
sear
, parch
)
cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat
The sun parched the earth
The sun parched the earth
-
(cooking) burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color
(
blacken
, char
, scorch
, sear
)
(cooking) burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color
The cook blackened the chicken breast
The cook blackened the chicken breast
The fire charred the ceiling above the mantelpiece
The fire charred the ceiling above the mantelpiece
The flames scorched the ceiling
the flames scorched the ceiling
-
Become superficially burned
(
scorch
, sear
, singe
)
become superficially burned
My eyebrows singed when I bent over the flames
my eyebrows singed when I bent over the flames