Skip to content

burn

/bɝn/noun, verb1 syllable

Burn means: cause to burn or combust.

Synonyms for burn35

noun, as in pain that feels hot as if it were on fire

burning

noun, as in a place or area that has been burned (especially on a person's body)

burn mark

verb, as in cause to burn or combust

combust, erupt, ignite, catch fire, take fire, conflagrate

verb, as in destroy by fire

fire, burn down, combust, incinerate

verb, as in cause to undergo combustion

incinerate, fire, burn down

verb, as in undergo combustion

combust, fire, burn down

verb, as in cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort

bite, sting

verb, as in feel hot or painful

bite, sting

verb, as in burn, sear, or freeze (tissue) using a hot iron or electric current or a caustic agent

cauterize, cauterise

verb, as in create by duplicating data

cut

verb, as in use up (energy)

burn off, burn up

verb, as in shine intensely, as if with heat

glow

verb, as in get a sunburn by overexposure to the sun

sunburn

also used for burn

cinder, forsweal, singe, torch, burn away, go up, scathe, vitriolize, knife, sell, stab in the back, assfuck, betray, cop out, cross out

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does burn mean?19

verb

1

cause to burn or combust“The sun burned off the fog”

2

destroy by fire“They burned the house and his diaries”

3

cause to undergo combustion“burn garbage”

4

undergo combustion“Maple wood burns well”

5

cause a sharp or stinging pain or discomfort“The sun burned his face”

6

feel hot or painful“My eyes are burning”

7

burn, sear, or freeze (tissue) using a hot iron or electric current or a caustic agent“The surgeon cauterized the wart”

8

create by duplicating data“cut a disk”

9

use up (energy)“burn off calories through vigorous exercise”

10

shine intensely, as if with heat“The coals were glowing in the dark”

11

get a sunburn by overexposure to the sun

12

feel strong emotion, especially anger or passion“She was burning with anger”

13

execute by tying to a stake and setting alight“Witches were burned in Salem”

14

spend (significant amounts of money)“He has money to burn”

15

damage by burning with heat, fire, or radiation“The iron burnt a hole in my dress”

noun

1

pain that feels hot as if it were on 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

damage inflicted by fire

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with burn?12

one syllable

turnlearnearnsternfernurnkernchurnyearn

two syllables

returnconcerndiscern
Show 40 near rhymes
wereherfirstworkworldperresearchgirlthirdworksheardwordwordstermgirlschurchworkedworthtermsturnedearthsirsearchhurtworstworselearnedservereturnedservedfirmbirthturnsconcernedtransferconfirmedbirdshirtreferredbirds

Burn in a sentence

  • If you burn yourself, quickly cool the burn with water.Scott
  • When you have finished reading this letter, burn it.AzureFlowers
  • When you finish reading this letter, burn it.AlanF_US
  • After you finish reading this letter, burn it.CK
  • Don't touch the stove with your hands, or you'll burn yourself.DJ_Saidez
  • When you've finished reading this letter, burn it.CK
  • Avoid direct sunlight, she warns, which can burn the leaves and the blooms.Hybrid
  • The forest fire continues to burn, but it is not spreading any further.sundown

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of burn

as a noun

plural
burns

as a verb

past tense
burned
past participle
burned
present participle
burning
third-person singular
burns