# sunburn

/ˈsənˌbɝn/ (US) · /sˈʌnbɜːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sunburn
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. skin condition

noun · CEFR B1

red, painful skin caused by spending too much time in the sun without protection.

For teachers: an inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

- She had a nasty sunburn on her shoulders after a day at the beach.
- The patient presented with a severe sunburn and mild dehydration after neglecting to reapply sunscreen during the hike.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the condition generally, but countable when referring to a specific instance.

### 2. to get burned by the sun

verb · CEFR B1

to get red, painful skin because you stayed in the sun too long.

For teachers: to suffer from or cause a sunburn through exposure to ultraviolet rays.

- I tend to sunburn easily, so I always wear a hat and long sleeves.
- If you stay out in this heat without any shade, you will sunburn within twenty minutes.

Usage: The past tense and past participle can be either 'sunburned' or 'sunburnt'.

### 3. damage to plants

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

damage to the leaves or fruit of a plant caused by too much direct sunlight.

For teachers: a physiological disorder in plants where fruit or foliage is damaged by intense solar radiation.

- The tomatoes developed white patches of sunburn during the record-breaking heatwave.
- Orchard managers often apply protective sprays to prevent sunburn on sensitive apple varieties during peak summer months.

Usage: Commonly used in agriculture and botany.

## Examples

- I got a bad sunburn after swimming all afternoon.
- The doctor advised applying a cool compress to the sunburn and staying out of the sun for several days.
- While a mild sunburn may heal within a few days, severe cases can lead to long-term skin damage and an increased risk of skin cancer if not treated properly.

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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.