1. (

• sear ,
• scorch ,

) make very hot and dry; "The heat scorched the countryside" ;

2. (

• scorch ,
• sear ,
• singe ,

) become superficially burned; "my eyebrows singed when I bent over the flames" ;

3. (

• char ,
• blacken ,
• sear ,
• scorch ,

) burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color; "The cook blackened the chicken breast"; "The fire charred the ceiling above the mantelpiece"; "the flames scorched the ceiling" ;

4. (

• parch ,
• sear ,

) cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat; "The sun parched the earth" ;

1. (

• seared

) having the surface burned quickly with intense heat; "the seared meat is then covered with hot liquid for braising" ;