scorch

 
Pronunciation: /skɔːtʃ/

verb

  • 1 [with object] burn the surface of (something) with flame or heat: surrounding houses were scorched by heat from the blast
  • [no object] become burnt when exposed to heat or a flame: the meat had scorched
  • (often as adjective scorched) (of the heat of the sun) cause (vegetation or a place) to become dried out and lifeless: a desolate, scorched landscape
  • 2 [no object, with adverbial of direction] informal (of a person or vehicle) move very fast: a sports car scorching along the expressway

noun

[mass noun]
  • the burning or charring of the surface of something: [as modifier]: a scorch mark
  • Botany a form of plant necrosis, typically of fungal origin, marked by browning of leaf margins.

Origin:

Middle English (as a verb): perhaps related to Old Norse skorpna 'be shrivelled'