v. & n.
v. 1 tr. a burn the surface of with flame or heat so as to discolour, parch, injure, or hurt. b affect with the sensation of burning. 2 intr. become discoloured etc. with heat. 3 tr. (as scorching adj.) colloq. a (of the weather) very hot. b (of criticism etc.) stringent; harsh. 4 intr. colloq. (of a motorist etc.) go at excessive speed.
n. 1 a mark made by scorching. 2 colloq. a spell of fast driving etc. scorched earth policy the burning of crops etc. and the removing or destroying of anything that might be of use to an enemy force occupying a country. scorchingly adv.
[ ME, perh. rel. to skorkle in the same sense ]