v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Scorched p. pr. & vb. n. Scorching. ] [ OE. scorchen, probably akin to scorcnen; cf. Norw. skrokken shrunk up, skrekka, skrökka, to shrink, to become wrinkled up, dial. Sw. skråkkla to wrinkle (see Shrug); but perhaps influenced by OF. escorchier to strip the bark from, to flay, to skin, F. écorcher, LL. excorticare; L. ex from + cortex, -icis, bark (cf. Cork); because the skin falls off when scorched. ] 1. To burn superficially; to parch, or shrivel, the surface of, by heat; to subject to so much heat as changes color and texture without consuming; as, to scorch linen. [ 1913 Webster ]

Summer drouth or singèd air
Never scorch thy tresses fair. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To affect painfully with heat, or as with heat; to dry up with heat; to affect as by heat. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lashed by mad rage, and scorched by brutal fires. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To burn; to destroy by, or as by, fire. [ 1913 Webster ]

Power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. Rev. xvi. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fire that scorches me to death. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be burnt on the surface; to be parched; to be dried up. [ 1913 Webster ]

Scatter a little mungy straw or fern amongst your seedlings, to prevent the roots from scorching. Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To burn or be burnt. [ 1913 Webster ]

He laid his long forefinger on the scarlet letter, which forthwith seemed to scorch into Hester's breast, as if it had been red hot. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To ride or drive at great, usually at excessive, speed; -- applied chiefly to automobilists and bicyclists. [ Colloq. ] -- Scorch"er, n. [Colloq.]

a very hot day. [ Informal ] [ PJC ]

a. 1. Burning; parching or shriveling with heat. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. sufficiently hot to cause scorching. [ PJC ]

-- Scorch"ing*ly, adv. -- Scorch"ing*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]