singeing
Burning the surface
Singeing is burning something lightly on the surface, just enough to scorch or remove fine fibers without consuming it.
Cooks singe poultry to remove pinfeathers; hairdressers once singed hair ends.
The word captures that moment of controlled, superficial burning: the singeing smell of burnt hair, singeing the edges of ribbon to prevent fraying.
Burning surface black
- scorchingExtremely hot, burning
- blackeningMaking or becoming dark
- searingBrowning with intense heat
- blisteringExtremely intense or severe
smoldering · toasting · browning · cauterizing · parching · withering · shriveling · crisping
Burning gas made visible
- embersSmoldering fire remnants
- blazeIntense burning fire
- infernoDevastating, uncontrollable blaze
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
ignition · flaring · spark · ash · soot · cinder · pyrolysis · pyre
Damage by heat
- scaldBurn with hot liquid
- woundCoiled, or an injury
- injuryPhysical or psychological harm
- harmInjury or damage
blistering · trauma · lesion · disfigurement · impairment · scarring · abrasion · affliction
Browning with intense heat
- browningFood darkening when cooked
- flambéFood set alight
- caramelizingHeating sugars until browned
- crispingBecoming firm and brittle
charring
Burning surface black
- scorchingExtremely hot, burning
- blackeningMaking or becoming dark
- searingBrowning with intense heat
blistering · smoldering · toasting · browning · cauterizing · parching · withering · shriveling · crisping · torching
flame
Burning gas made visible
combustion · ignition · flaring · spark · ash · soot · cinder · pyrolysis · pyre · conflagration
burn
Damage by heat
harm · blistering · trauma · lesion · disfigurement · impairment · scarring · abrasion · affliction · deterioration
searing
Browning with intense heat
- browningFood darkening when cooked
- flambéFood set alight
- caramelizingHeating sugars until browned
crisping · skin · poultry · pork · crackling · torching · blowtorch
napping
Sleeping briefly, often midday
- calenderingRoller-smoothing process
- beetlingOverhanging or fabric-pounding
- finishingBringing to completion
gassing · flocking · crabbing · brushing · steaming · fabric · fibers · linen · cotton · wool
trimming
Cutting away excess
shaping · splitting · ends · frizz · hair · straightening · burning · damaged · breakage · fraying
- combustionburning, flames, fire triangle, ignition source, oxygen
- fabric finishesmatte finish, brushed, dull finish, calendered, flat finish
- heat damageburn, scorch, char, scald, thermal burn
- fire statesablaze, afire, aflame, alight, blazing
- meatpackingslaughterhouse, meatpacker, abattoirs, meatpacking plant, packing house
- textile finishingfinishing, bleaching, dyeing, calendering, sizing
singeingincinerating
Burning to destruction
immolating · conflagrating · cremating · charring · blazing
singeingfreezing
Extremely cold
frosting · icing · chilling · cooling · refrigerating
singeingprotecting
Keeping from harm
preserving · shielding · safeguarding · fireproofing · moisturizing