# burn

/ˈbɝn/ (US) · /bˈɜːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/burn
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to be on fire

verb · CEFR A2

to be on fire or to damage something with fire or heat.

For teachers: to consume or be consumed by fire; to undergo combustion or cause thermal damage to a surface.

- The campfire burned brightly all through the night.
- The dry timber burned with such intensity that the heat could be felt from several meters away.

### 2. to use energy or resources

verb · CEFR B1

to use up fuel, energy, or money.

For teachers: to expend or consume resources, such as calories, fuel, or capital, often at a rapid rate.

- Running helps you burn calories and stay healthy.
- The startup was burning through its venture capital so quickly that the board demanded a revised budget.

### 3. to feel hot or sting

verb · CEFR B1

to feel a sharp pain or heat in your body, like in your muscles or eyes.

For teachers: to experience or cause a stinging sensation or a feeling of intense heat.

- My eyes started to burn because of the smoke from the grill.
- After the final set of heavy lifting, his muscles began to burn from the accumulation of lactic acid.

### 4. to copy data

verb · CEFR B1

to record information onto a CD, DVD, or other storage device.

For teachers: to write data to a permanent storage medium, such as an optical disc or ROM chip.

- I need to burn these photos onto a disc to give to my parents.
- The technician burned the updated firmware onto the system's internal memory during the maintenance window.

### 5. a physical injury

noun · CEFR A2

an injury on the skin caused by something hot, like fire, steam, or chemicals.

For teachers: a lesion or tissue damage caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, or radiation.

- She got a small burn on her finger while she was cooking dinner.
- The patient suffered a second-degree burn on his forearm after coming into contact with boiling hydraulic fluid.

### 6. a clever insult

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

a clever or funny insult that makes someone feel embarrassed.

For teachers: a particularly effective or stinging insult or retort.

- That was a sick burn you gave him during the debate.
- The comedian's sharp wit was on full display, delivering one burn after another to the hecklers in the front row.

### 7. a stream

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect

a small river or a large stream.

For teachers: a small river or large brook, typically found in northern regions.

- We walked along the burn until we reached the old stone bridge.
- The clear water of the mountain burn cascaded over the rocks, eventually feeding into the larger loch below.

## Examples

- That was a sick burn.
- After he made a joke about her old car, her quick comeback was such a burn that the whole room went quiet.
- While the debate was mostly professional, the candidate ended his closing statement with a subtle burn that highlighted his opponent's lack of experience.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.