sear 1
/sear/ , v.t.
1. to burn or char the surface of: She seared the steak to seal in the juices.
2. to mark with a branding iron.
3. to burn or scorch injuriously or painfully: He seared his hand on a hot steam pipe.
4. to make callous or unfeeling; harden: The hardship of her youth has seared her emotionally.
5. to dry up or wither; parch.
v.i.
6. to become dry or withered, as vegetation.
n.
7. a mark or scar made by searing.
adj.
8. sere 1 .
[ bef. 900; (adj.) ME sere, OE sear; c. D zoor; (v.) ME seren, OE searian, deriv. of sear ]
Syn. 1. See burn 1 .
sear 2
/sear/ , n.
a pivoted piece that holds the hammer at full cock or half cock in the firing mechanism of small arms.
[ 1550-60; serre a grip, deriv. of serrer to lock up, close serrare, for LL serare to bar (a door), deriv. of L sera door-bar; VL -rr- unexplained ]