singe

1 of 2

verb

singed; singeing ˈsin-jiŋ How to pronounce singe (audio)

transitive verb

: to burn superficially or lightly : scorch
especially : to remove the hair, down, or fuzz from usually by passing rapidly over a flame

singe

2 of 2

noun

: a slight burn : scorch

Examples of singe in a Sentence

Verb The wood was singed by the candle. the marshmallows got a bit singed over the campfire, but we like them that way
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
One study shows that toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are emitted when synthetic hair is singed or heated at temperatures of 250°C and above. Kiara Byrd, Allure, 31 Oct. 2024 How the flames singed the corners of everything, a childhood charred by fear. Raleigh McCool, Longreads, 5 Sep. 2024
Noun
Regular gel polish isn’t immune to the dreaded singe, either. Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 9 July 2024 America’s cigarette market is in flux, and new smoking habits threaten to singe makers of pricey brands the most. Carol Ryan, WSJ, 4 Nov. 2023 See all Example Sentences for singe 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sengen, from Old English sæncgan, sengan; akin to Old High German bisengan to singe, Old Church Slavic isęknǫti to dry up

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1658, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of singe was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near singe

Cite this Entry

“Singe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/singe. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

singe

1 of 2 verb
singed
ˈsinjd
; singeing ˈsin-jiŋ How to pronounce singe (audio)
: to burn slightly
especially : to remove hair, down, or fuzz from usually by passing briefly over a flame

singe

2 of 2 noun
: a slight burn : scorch

More from Merriam-Webster on singe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!