~ 1
■ verb ( past and past participle ~ed or chiefly Brit. ~t )
1》 (of a fire) flame or glow while consuming a fuel.
↘use (a fuel) as a source of heat or energy.
2》 be or cause to be harmed or destroyed by fire.
↘(of the skin) become red and painful through exposure to the sun.
↘feel hot as a result of illness, injury, or emotion.
3》 ( be ~ing with ) be entirely possessed by (a desire or emotion).
4》 ( ~ out ) become exhausted through overwork.
5》 informal drive very fast.
6》 ( ~ someone up ) N. Amer. informal make someone very angry.
7》 produce (a CD) by copying from an original or master copy.
■ noun
1》 an injury or area of damage caused by ~ing.
↘a painful sensation in the muscles experienced as a result of sustained exercise.
2》 a firing of a rocket engine in flight.
3》 N. Amer. & Austral./NZ an act of clearing of vegetation by ~ing.
Phrases
~ one's boats (or bridges ) do something which makes turning back impossible.
~ the candle at both ends go to bed late and get up early.
~ a hole in one's pocket (of money) tempt one to spend it quickly or extravagantly.
~ the midnight oil work late into the night.
~ rubber informal drive very fast.
Origin
OE birnan 'be on fire' and bærnan 'consume by fire', both from the same Gmc base.
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~ 2
■ noun Scottish & N. English a small stream.
Origin
OE ~a , ~(e) , of Gmc origin.