burn

/bə:n/

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Explanation of the Word "Burn"

Definition: The word "burn" can be used as both a noun and a verb.

Usage Instructions:

• For Everyday Use: You can use "burn" when talking about accidents (e.g., "I burned my hand on the stove") or when discussing exercise (e.g., "I want to burn calories by jogging").
• In Context of Emotions: Use it to express strong feelings (e.g., "She was burning with desire to travel").

Examples:

• Noun: "He has a burn on his arm from the hot pot."
• Verb: "The candle will burn for many hours."

Advanced Usage:

• Technical Use: In scientific contexts, "burn" can refer to combustion, such as "The car burns gasoline efficiently."
• Figurative Use: It can be used to indicate strong emotions, like "He was burning with jealousy."

Word Variants:

• Burned/Burnt: Both are past forms of the verb "burn." "Burned" is more common in American English, while "burnt" is often used in British English.
• Burning: This can be used as an adjective (e.g., "a burning sensation") or a gerund (e.g., "Burning calories is important for health").

Different Meanings:

• Sunburn: A specific type of burn caused by too much sun exposure.
• Burnout: A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress.

Synonyms:

• For the verb "burn": scorch, singe, incinerate, consume.
• For the noun "burn": scald, blister, injury.

Idioms:

• "Burn the midnight oil": To stay up late working or studying.
• "Burn bridges": To destroy relationships or connections.

Phrasal Verbs:

• "Burn out": To become exhausted from overwork or stress.
• "Burn down": To completely destroy something by fire (e.g., "The building burned down last night.").

Academic

Noun

1. damage inflicted by fire
2. a place or area that has been burned (especially on a person's body)
3. an injury caused by exposure to heat or chemicals or radiation
4. a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
5. pain that feels hot as if it were on fire

Verb

1. burn with heat, fire, or radiation
   • The iron burnt a hole in my dress
2. use up (energy)
   • burn off calories through vigorous exercise
3. create by duplicating data
   • cut a disk
   • burn a CD
4. get a sunburn by overexposure to the sun
5. burn, sear, or freeze (tissue) using a hot iron or electric current or a caustic agent
   • The surgeon cauterized the wart
6. feel hot or painful
   • My eyes are burning
7. spend (significant amounts of money)
   • He has money to burn
8. burn at the stake
   • Witches were burned in Salem
9. cause to undergo combustion
   • burn garbage
   • The car burns only Diesel oil
10. feel strong emotion, especially anger or passion
    • She was burning with anger
    • He was burning to try out his new skies
11. cause to burn or combust
    • The sun burned off the fog
    • We combust coal and other fossil fuels
12. cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort
    • The sun burned his face
13. undergo combustion
    • Maple wood burns well
14. shine intensely, as if with heat
    • The coals were glowing in the dark
    • The candles were burning
15. destroy by fire
    • They burned the house and his diaries

Synonyms

• burn mark
• tan
• suntan
• sunburn
• burning
• burn off
• burn up
• cut
• cauterize
• cauterise
• incinerate
• combust
• bite
• sting
• glow
• fire
• burn down