n.
Pronunciation: ' b ə rn
Function: verb
Inflected Form: burned \ ' b ə rnd, ' b ə rnt \ or burnt \ ' b ə rnt \ ; burn · ing
Etymology: Middle English birnen, from Old English byrnan, v.i., bærnan, v.t.; akin to Old High German brinnan to burn
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1 a : to consume fuel and give off heat, light, and gases <a small fire burn s on the hearth> b : to undergo combustion also : to undergo nuclear fission or nuclear fusion c : to contain a fire <a little stove burn ing in the corner> d : to give off light : SHINE , GLOW <a light burn ing in the window>
2 a : to be hot <the burn ing sand> b : to produce or undergo discomfort or pain <ears burn ing from the cold> c : to become emotionally excited or agitated: as (1) : to yearn ardently < burn ing to tell the story> (2) : to be or become very angry or disgusted <the remark made him burn >
3 a : to undergo alteration or destruction by the action of fire or heat <the house burn ed down> <the potatoes burn ed to a crisp> b : to die in the electric chair
4 : to force or make a way by or as if by burning <her words burn ed into his heart>
5 : to suffer sunburn <she burn s easily>
transitive verb
1 a : to cause to undergo combustion especially : to destroy by fire < burn ed the trash> b : to use as fuel <this furnace burn s gas> c : to use up : CONSUME < burn calories>
2 a : to transform by exposure to heat or fire < burn clay to bricks> b : to produce by burning < burn ed a hole in his sleeve> c : to record digital data or music on (an optical disk) using a laser < burn a CD> also : to record (data or music) in this way < burn songs onto a disk>
3 a : to injure or damage by or as if by exposure to fire, heat, or radiation : SCORCH < burn ed his hand> b : to execute by burning < burn ed heretics at the stake> also : ELECTROCUTE
4 a : IRRITATE , ANNOY ― often used with up <really burn s me up> b : to subject to misfortune, mistreatment, or deception ― often used in passive <has been burned in love> c : to beat or score on < burn ed the defense with a touchdown pass>
– burn · able \ ' b ə r-n ə -b ə l \ adjective
– burn one's bridges also burn one's boats : to cut off all means of retreat
– burn one's ears : to rebuke strongly
– burn the candle at both ends : to use one's resources or energies to excess
– burn the midnight oil : to work or study far into the night