WordWeb Online

1. Severely critical

1. Make very hot and dry
   "The heat seared the countryside";
   - scorch
    
2. Become superficially burned
   "my eyebrows seared when I bent over the flames";
   - scorch, singe
    
3. (cooking) burn slightly and superficially so as to affect colour
   "The fire seared the ceiling above the mantelpiece";
   - char, blacken, scorch
    
4. Cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat
   "The sun seared the earth";
   - parch

See also: critical

Type of: burn, combust, dry, dry out, heat, heat up

Encyclopedia: Searing