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   sear

   /sɪə/

   verb

   • 1. burn or scorch the surface of (something) with a sudden, intense heat: "the water got so hot that it seared our lips" Similar scorchburnsingescaldchardry up/outparchdesiccatedehydratewithershriveldiscolourbrownblackencarbonizecauterizerare:exsiccatedistressgrievesaddenmake miserable/wretchedupsettroubleharrowcause anguish toafflictperturbdisturbhurtwoundpaincut to the quickaffectmovestingmortifytormenttorturegnaw atvexgall
   • ▪ fix (an image or memory) permanently in someone's mind or memory: "the unfortunate childhood encounter is seared on his memory"
   • ▪ fry (food) quickly at a high temperature so that it will retain its juices in subsequent cooking: "sear the chicken livers in a pan for a few minutes on each side" Similar flash-frysealbrownfry/grill quicklytoast
   • 2. (of pain) be experienced as a sudden, burning sensation: "a crushing pain seared through his chest"
   • 3. cause to wither: archaic "when summer sears the plains"
   • ▪ make (someone's conscience or feelings) insensitive: "a long career of ambition, craft, and despotic rule never utterly seared his conscience"

   adjective

   • 1. variant spelling of sere

   Word Origin Old Englishsēar (adjective), sēarian (verb), of Germanic origin.

   Scrabble Points: 4

   • S

     1

   • E

     1

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

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