# scorched

/ˈskɔɹtʃt/ (US) · /skˈɔːtʃt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scorched
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb like 'look' or 'remain', or precedes a noun as a modifier.

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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.