burn

to spoil food during cooking by leaving it on the heat slightly longer than meant to, so the dish is partly damaged or scorched but not turned to charcoal; food may also burn in this way by itself.

• scorch

  lighter version: the food browns too much, not totally ruined

• overcook

  wider sense; food may be ruined without going black

to have skin become red and painful from spending too long under strong sunshine; the sun can also do this to a person.

• tan

  skin turns brown, not red — usually wanted, not damage

• redden

  go red; broader, not only from sun

to leave someone with deep emotional pain, often after they trusted a person who then betrayed or disappointed them — usually said about love, friendship, or business deals.

• betray

  stronger: break someone's trust deliberately

• hurt

  general; 'burn' adds the idea of being foolish for trusting

to put someone to death by fastening them to a wooden post and setting fire underneath — a punishment used long ago against people accused of crimes such as witchcraft.

• execute

  general formal word; burning is one method

• immolate

  literary; killing by fire, often as sacrifice

to set fire to a house, factory, or other building so that the whole structure is lost.

• torch

  informal; suggests fire was set on purpose

• raze

  destroy completely; not always by fire

• rebuild

  put the building back up

to ruin food on heat until it is fully charred — completely blackened, crisp through and through, and no longer fit to eat; food can also burn in this way on its own.

• char

  stronger; emphasizes the black surface left behind

• scorch

  lighter damage — surface browning, not fully black

• incinerate

  extreme; reduces something to ash, not used for food in normal kitchens

if wood, coal, a candle, or another fuel burns, flames rise from it and it gives off heat and smoke as the material is used up.

• blaze

  stronger — large, bright flames

• flame

  verb form, stresses visible flames rather than the fire itself

• smoulder

  opposite end — burning slowly without open flames

• extinguish

  to put out a fire that is burning

to use up fuel such as petrol, coal, or wood, or body energy such as calories or fat, by turning it into heat, light, or movement.

• consume

  more formal; covers any kind of using-up, not only fuel

• use up

  everyday phrasal verb; less specific than 'burn'

• expend

  formal; common in writing about calories or resources

• save

  for fuel or energy

• store

  of calories/fat in the body

if a lamp, candle, or similar light source burns, it is switched on or lit and is shining steadily.

• shine

  general; works for any light, including reflected light

• glow

  softer, warmer light without sharp brightness

• be lit

  neutral, factual; common in everyday speech

• go out

  of a lamp, candle, or fire

if your skin, eyes, or throat burns, or something makes it burn, you feel a strong hot, painful, stinging sensation — for example, after chilli, sun, or shouting too long.

• sting

  sharper, briefer pain; common for cuts and insect bites

• smart

  slightly literary; sharp surface pain, often eyes

• tingle

  milder; not painful, just a hot or fizzy feeling

to feel a very strong wish to do something, or a powerful emotion such as anger or longing — used in writing or careful speech to make the feeling sound intense.

• yearn

  more emotional, often about long-distance longing

• long

  neutral and very common; 'long to do something'

• ache

  literary; suggests painful longing

• dread

  to strongly not want something

to save songs, photos, films, or other digital files onto a blank CD or DVD using a computer drive that writes the data with a laser.

• copy

  general term; doesn't imply optical disc or laser writing

• rip

  opposite direction — extract from a CD onto a computer

• record

  broader; can refer to any medium, not just discs

to use up money quickly and without much care, often more than is sensible, so that it is gone before you realise.

• blow

  informal; very similar — 'blow your savings' suggests one big reckless purchase

• squander

  more formal; stronger note of waste and lost opportunity

• splurge

  informal; positive or self-indulgent rather than disapproving

• save

  to keep money for later use rather than spending it

• hoard

  to hold on to money tightly, often more than is needed

in Scotland and northern England, a narrow stream of water running through fields or hills.

• stream

  the standard word in most varieties of English

• brook

  a small stream, more common in literary or southern English use

• creek

  the usual American equivalent

a sharp comment that mocks someone, especially one that is clever and makes other people laugh.

• zinger

  informal, a short and clever insult or joke

• dig

  a small, often quieter critical remark aimed at someone

• diss

  very informal slang, especially in hip-hop culture

• compliment

  praise rather than mockery

a hot, stinging feeling in part of your body, often from spicy food, strong exercise, or contact with something irritating.

• sting

  a quick, sharp painful feeling, often shorter than a burn

• tingle

  milder; a light prickly feeling without real pain

• ache

  a duller, deeper pain without the hot quality of a burn