1. Become superficially burned
   "my eyebrows scorched when I bent over the flames";
   - sear, singe
    
2. (cooking) burn slightly and superficially so as to affect colour
   "the flames scorched the ceiling";
   - char, blacken, sear
    
3. Become scorched or singed under intense heat or dry conditions
   "The exposed tree scorched in the hot sun"
    
4. Destroy completely by or as if by fire
   "The wildfire scorched the forest and several homes"; "the invaders scorched the land"
    
5. Make very hot and dry
   "The heat scorched the countryside";
   - sear
    
6. [informal] Subject to harsh criticism
   "your invectives scorched the community";
   - blister, scald, whip [informal]

1. A surface burn
   "The hot pan left a scorch on the counter";
   - singe
    
2. A discolouration caused by heat
   "The iron left a scorch mark on the shirt"
    
3. A plant disease that produces a browning or scorched appearance of plant tissues
   "The hot, dry weather led to scorch on many of the garden plants"

Derived forms: scorched, scorches, scorching

Type of: assail, assault, attack, burn, burn down, combust, discoloration, discolouration [Brit, Cdn], dry, dry out, fire, heat, heat up, lash out, plant disease, round, stain

Encyclopedia: Scorch