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Definition burn in British English

burn verb

verb
/bɜː(r)n/
1

if a fire or flame burns, it produces light and heat

Example

A fire was burning in the hearth.

Example

The flames seemed to burn even brighter.

Synonyms and related words
burn light blaze
1.1

if something is burning, it is being destroyed or damaged by fire. You can also say that it is on fire

Example

Homes were burning all over the village.

Example

The truck had been burning for some time.

Synonyms and related words
burn blazing flaming
1.2

to damage or destroy something with fire

Example

Demonstrators burned flags outside the embassy.

Example

The cigarette burnt a hole in her blouse.

Example

The city of Tortona was burnt to the ground.

Synonyms and related words
burn set light to something burn down
1.3

to injure or kill someone by setting fire to them

Example

According to early reports, many people were burnt to death in their beds.

Synonyms and related words
kill murder strangle injure harm wound
2

if food burns, or if you burn it, it gets spoiled by being cooked for too long or at too high a temperature

Example

Have you burnt the toast again?

Synonyms and related words
bake barbecue baste
3

to injure someone or a part of your body with something hot

Example

The sand was so hot it burnt my feet.

Synonyms and related words
injure harm wound
3.1

if your skin burns, or if the sun burns it, it becomes red and painful because of the heat from the sun

Example

Wear a hat so you don't burn your neck.

Synonyms and related words
bask burn catch/bag some rays
4

to use something such as petrol or coal to produce heat or energy

Example

Jets burn less fuel the higher they go.

Example

You're not allowed to burn coal in this area.

Synonyms and related words
biofuel biogas biomass
5

to use fat or energy in your body

Example

To change your body shape you need to burn calories.

Example

fat-burning exercises

Synonyms and related words
digest assimilate go down
6

if a chemical burns something, it damages it by destroying the places it touches

Example

The acid had burnt a hole in my sweater.

Synonyms and related words
destroy ruin devastate
Example

The antiseptic really burned when I rubbed it on.

Synonyms and related words
suffer hurt ache
Example

The whisky burned his throat as it went down.

Synonyms and related words
suffer hurt ache
8

to feel a very strong emotion or a great need for someone or something

Example

I was burning with curiosity, but didn't dare ask what happened.

Example

I was burning to know how he had got on in New York.

Synonyms and related words
want wish hope feel experience give up to
9

if your cheeks are burning, they are red, especially because you are embarrassed

10

if a light is burning, it is switched on

Example

Sara left all the lights burning.

Synonyms and related words
shine glow flash
11

if a vehicle burns somewhere, it goes there very fast

Synonyms and related words
go ride commute
12

if you burn a CD-ROM, you put information onto it

Synonyms and related words
access archive back up
Definition burn in British English

Related Words

Words related to burn:

burn (verb) burn (noun) burn away (phrasal verb) burn down (phrasal verb) burn in (phrasal verb) burn off (phrasal verb) burn out (phrasal verb) burn rate (noun) burn rubber (phrase) burn something to a crisp (phrase) burn the candle at both ends (phrase) burn the midnight oil (phrase) burn through (verb) burn up (phrasal verb) burn your boats/bridges (phrase) burn your fingers (phrase) burn-in (noun) crash and burn (phrase) flash burn (noun) have money to burn (phrase) sick burn (noun) slash and burn (adjective) slow burn (noun)