burn up

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Explanation of "Burn Up"

Definition: "Burn up" is a phrasal verb in English that has a couple of meanings. It can mean to be completely consumed or destroyed by fire. It can also mean to use up energy or resources quickly.

Usage Instructions:

• As a verb: "burn up" is used to describe something that is burning completely or using energy rapidly.
• Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

Examples:

1. Fire Meaning:

   • "The old wooden hut burned up during the fire last night."
   • "The mountain of paper went up in flames when the fire started."

2. Energy Meaning:

   • "I like to burn up calories by jogging every morning."
   • "She was so nervous that she burned up all her energy before the presentation."

Advanced Usage:

• In a scientific or technical context, "burn up" can refer to the process of combustion, where materials are consumed by fire, such as in rocket launches where fuel burns up quickly.

Word Variants:

• Burn (verb): The base form of the word, meaning to produce fire or heat.
• Burned/Burnt (past tense): Both forms are used in past tense; "burned" is more common in American English, while "burnt" is often used in British English.
• Burning (gerund): The act of something that is currently on fire or consuming fuel.

Different Meanings:

1. Literal Meaning: To be destroyed by fire.
2. Figurative Meaning: To use up energy quickly or to feel intense emotions (like anger or passion).

Synonyms:

• For the fire meaning: Incinerate, consume, ignite
• For the energy meaning: Expend, use up, deplete

Idioms and Related Phrasal Verbs:

• Burn the midnight oil: To stay up late working or studying.
• Burning the candle at both ends: To work excessively hard or exhaust oneself by doing too much.

Conclusion:

"Burn up" is a versatile phrasal verb that can be used in various contexts, from describing something being destroyed by fire to talking about using energy quickly.

Academic

Verb

1. burn completely; be consumed or destroyed by fire
   • The hut burned down
   • The mountain of paper went up in flames
2. use up (energy)
   • burn off calories through vigorous exercise
3. burn brightly
   • Every star seemed to flare with new intensity

Synonyms

• burn down
• go up
• burn off
• burn
• flare
• flame up
• blaze up