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   burn

   /bəːn/

   verb

   • 1. (of a fire) produce flames and heat while consuming a material such as coal or wood: "a fire burned and crackled cheerfully in the grate" Similar be on firebe alightbe ablazeblazego upgo up in smokebe in flamesbe aflamesmoulderglowflareflashflickerliterary:be afirearchaic:be ardent
   • ▪ be in flames: "by nightfall, the whole city was burning"
   • ▪ (of a candle or other source of light) be alight: "a light was burning in the hall"
   • ▪ use (a type of fuel) as a source of heat or energy: "the diesel engine was converted to burn natural gas"
   • ▪ (of a person) convert (calories) to energy: "exercise does help to burn calories"
   • 2. destroy, damage, or injure by heat or fire: "he burned all the letters" Similar set fire toset on fireset alightset light tolightset burningignitetouch offput a match tokindleincineratereduce to ashesdestroy by fireinformal:torcharchaic:fireinflame
   • ▪ be damaged, injured, or destroyed by heat or fire: "he watched his restaurant burn to the ground" Similar scorchsingesearcharblackendiscolourbrandscaldtechnical:cauterizecalcinerare:torrefy
   • ▪ (of a person or a part of the body) become red and painful through exposure to the sun: "my skin tans easily but sometimes burns"
   • ▪ feel hot or sore, typically as a result of illness or injury: "her forehead was burning and her throat ached" Similar smartstingtingleprickpricklebe irritatedbe sorehurtbe painfulthrobache
   • 3. produce (a CD or DVD) by copying from an original or master copy.
   • 4. drive or move very fast: informal "he burned past us like a maniac"
   • 5. insult (someone) in a particularly cutting way: informal "Mark burns him by saying he hasn't even heard of the guy's agency"

   noun

   • 1. an injury caused by exposure to heat or flame: "he was treated in hospital for burns to his hands"
   • ▪ a mark left on something as a result of being burned: "the carpet was covered in cigarette burns"
   • ▪ an injury caused by friction: "they found rope burns around her waist"
   • ▪ a hot, painful sensation in the muscles experienced as a result of sustained vigorous exercise.
   • ▪ a particularly cutting insult: informal "he's been on the receiving end of his fair share of sick burns"
   • 2. consumption of a type of fuel as an energy source: "natural gas produces the cleanest burn of the lot"
   • ▪ a firing of a rocket engine in flight.
   • 3. an act of clearing of vegetation by burning. North American, Australian, New Zealand
   • ▪ an area of land cleared by burning vegetation.
   • 4. a cigarette. informal British

   Word Origin Old Englishbirnan ‘be on fire’ and bærnan ‘consume by fire’, both from the same Germanic base; related to German brennen.

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • B

     3

   • U

     1

   • R

     1

   • N

     1

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