SCORCH, verb transitive 1. To burn superficially; to subject to a degree of heat that changes the color of a thing, or both the color and texture of the surface. Fire will scorch linen or cotton very speedily in extremely cold weather. 2. To burn; to affect painfully with heat. Scorched with the burning sun or burning sands of Africa. SCORCH, verb intransitive To be burnt on the surface; to be parched; to be dried up. Scatter a little mungy straw and fern among your seedlings, to prevent the roots from scorching.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI