Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sear
Sear
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Seared
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Searing
.] 1.
To wither; to dry up.
Shak.
2.
To burn (the surface of) to dryness and hardness; to cauterize; to expose to a degree of heat such as changes the color or the hardness and texture of the surface; to scorch; to make callous;
as, to
. Also used figuratively. sear
the skin or fleshI’m
seared
with burning steel. Rowe.
It was in vain that the amiable divine tried to give salutary pain to that
seared
conscience. Macaulay.
The discipline of war, being a discipline in destruction of life, is a discipline in callousness. Whatever sympathies exist are
seared
. H. Spencer.
☞ Sear is allied to scorch in signification; but it is applied primarily to animal flesh, and has special reference to the effect of heat in marking the surface hard. Scorch is applied to flesh, cloth, or any other substance, and has no reference to the effect of hardness.
To sear up
, to close by searing.
“Cherish veins of good humor, and sear up those of ill.” Sir W. Temple.
Sear
,Noun.
The catch in a gunlock by which the hammer is held cocked or half cocked.
Sear spring
, the spring which causes the sear to catch in the notches by which the hammer is held.
Webster 1828 Edition
Sear
SEAR
,Verb.
T.
1. To burn to dryness and hardness the surface of any thing; to cauterize; to expose to a degree of heat that changes the color of the surface, ar makes it hard; as, to sear the skin or flesh.
I'm sear'd with burning steel. Rowe.
Definition 2024
sear
sear
English
Alternative forms
Adjective
sear (comparative searer or more sear, superlative searest or most sear)
Etymology 2
From Middle English seeren, seren, from Old English sēarian (“to become sere, to grow sear, wither, pine away”), from Proto-Germanic *sauzōną, *sauzijaną (“to become dry”). Related to Old High German sōrēn (“to wither, wilt”), Greek hauos ("dry"), Sanskrit sōsa ("drought"). The use in firearms terminology may relate to French serrer ("to grip").
Verb
sear (third-person singular simple present sears, present participle searing, simple past and past participle seared)
- To char, scorch, or burn the surface of something with a hot instrument.
- To wither; to dry up.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
- (figuratively) To mark permanently, as if by burning.
- The events of that day were seared into her memory.
Translations
To char, scorch, or burn the surface of something with a hot instrument
Noun
sear (plural sears)
Translations
A scar produced by searing
Part of a gun that retards the hammer until the trigger is pulled