I. ˈbərn noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German brunno spring of water
Date: before 12th century
British : creek 2
II. ˈbərn verb
( burned ˈbərnd, ˈbərnt ; or burnt ˈbərnt ; burn·ing )
Etymology: Middle English birnen, from Old English byrnan, verbi., bærnan, verbt.; 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 ˈbər-nə-bəl adjective
•
- burn one's bridges
- burn one's ears
- burn the candle at both ends
- burn the midnight oil
III. noun
Date: 1594
1. : an act, process, instance, or result of burning: as
a. : injury or damage resulting from exposure to fire, heat, caustics, electricity, or certain radiations
b. : a burned area
a burn on the tabletop
c. : an abrasion (as of the skin) having the appearance of a burn
rope burn s
d. : a burning sensation
the burn of iodine on a cut
2. : the firing of a rocket engine in flight
3. : anger ; especially : increasing fury — used chiefly in the phrase slow burn