burn

burnverb

To burn is to be destroyed by fire, to damage something with heat, to use something as fuel, or to feel an emotion very strongly.

1. on fireproduce flame and heat while being destroyed, or cause something to do this

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The wood burned slowly in the fireplace.
   • She burned the letter without reading it. V + obj
   • The candle burned all night.

   Collocations

   adverb + verb burn slowly, burn brightly

2. damage by heatdamage or hurt something with heat or fire

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj]

   • I burned my hand on the stove. V + obj
   • Don't burn the toast! V + obj
   • The sun burned her skin. V + obj
   • Her skin burns easily in strong sun.

   Collocations

   verb + noun burn your hand, burn the toast

   adverb + verb burn easily

3. use as fueluse something as fuel

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The furnace burns oil. V + obj
   • Cars burn gasoline. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun burn fuel, burn gasoline

4. strong feelingfeel an emotion very strongly

   intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

   • She was burning with anger. V + prep + obj
   • He burned with curiosity to know the answer. V + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition burn with anger, burn with curiosity

See also burn out (become extremely tired from too much work)