1. Hot and dry enough to burn or parch a surface
   "scorching heat";
   - searing
    
2. Severely critical
   "The movie received a scorching review from the renowned critic";
   - searing

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]

See also: critical, hot

Type of: assail, assault, attack, burn, burn down, combust, dry, dry out, fire, heat, heat up, lash out, round

Encyclopedia: Scorch