Word
scorched
US/ˈskɔɹtʃt/
UK/skˈɔːtʃt/
Definition
adj. slightly burned on the surface, or very dry because of heat. You use it to describe things like grass in the sun or toast that stayed in the machine too long.
adj. having a surface that is slightly burned or discoloured by heat; severely parched by sunlight or fire. Often used as a participial adjective to describe landscapes or materials.
Examples
“The grass was scorched after the long, hot summer.”
“Firefighters surveyed the scorched remains of the forest, noting that only the thickest tree trunks had survived the blaze.”
“The scorched earth policy left the invading army with no local resources to plunder, forcing them to rely on increasingly fragile supply lines stretching back across the border.”
Examples
simple
“The grass was scorched after the long, hot summer.”
contextual
“Firefighters surveyed the scorched remains of the forest, noting that only the thickest tree trunks had survived the blaze.”
complex
“The scorched earth policy left the invading army with no local resources to plunder, forcing them to rely on increasingly fragile supply lines stretching back across the border.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “scorched” in context.
Usage
Often follows a linking verb like 'look' or 'remain', or precedes a noun as a modifier.
Real-World Examples
“The four are suspected of setting fires that scorched pine forests and olive groves as Croatia battles a wave of blazes fuelled by drought and heat.” “Together, they had scorched 77,000 hectares, an area roughly equal in size to New York City.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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