burns
B1Neutral to formal for the noun (medical context); neutral for the verb.
Definition
Meaning
The plural form of 'burn', referring to injuries to skin or tissue caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation.
Can also refer to the third person singular present tense of the verb 'to burn', meaning to be on fire, to consume by fire, to injure by heat, or to feel a hot sensation. As a plural noun, it can metaphorically describe painful experiences or intense feelings.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it is countable and typically refers to physical injuries. The verb form is highly polysemous, covering literal destruction by fire, sensation, and metaphorical processes (e.g., 'burning with desire', 'burning a CD').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling in derived forms (burnt/burned). The noun 'burns' is standard in both. The verb form 'burns' is identical.
Connotations
Identical core connotations. In medical contexts, 'burns unit' (UK) vs. 'burn unit' (US) is a common collocational difference.
Frequency
Comparatively frequent in both varieties. The adjective 'burnt' is somewhat more common in UK English than in US English, where 'burned' is often preferred.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] burns [Object] (The fire burns wood).[Subject] burns [Adverbial] (The toast burns quickly).[Subject] burns with [Emotion] (He burns with ambition).[Subject] gets/has burns [on location] (She has burns on her hand).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fight fire with fire.”
- “Burn the midnight oil.”
- “Get your fingers burnt.”
- “Burn bridges.”
- “Money burns a hole in his pocket.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The new policy burns through our cash reserves." (Metaphorical for rapid consumption)
Academic
"The study focused on cytokine response in second-degree burns."
Everyday
"Be careful, the cooker hob burns really easily."
Technical
"The engine burns a lean fuel mixture at cruising speed."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The bonfire burns brightly all night.
- Her criticism still burns after all these years.
- This new lamp burns less electricity.
American English
- The fireplace burns cleanly with this wood.
- His insult burns me up inside.
- The rocket burns fuel for two minutes.
adverb
British English
- N/A. 'Burn' is not standardly used as an adverb. 'Burning' is a participle adjective/adverb.
American English
- N/A. 'Burn' is not standardly used as an adverb. 'Burning' is a participle adjective/adverb.
adjective
British English
- The burnt toast set off the smoke alarm.
- They served a delicious burnt caramel sauce.
- He smelled of burnt rubber.
American English
- The burned-out building was demolished.
- She prefers the burned edges on the marshmallow.
- The burned document was illegible.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The fire burns.
- She has burns on her hand.
- The sun burns my skin.
- He suffered minor burns while cooking.
- If you touch the iron, it burns.
- The candle burns for eight hours.
- The chemical spill caused severe acid burns to the workers.
- Her ambition burns fiercely, driving her to succeed.
- The spacecraft's engine burns for precisely 4 minutes to enter orbit.
- The novel's protagonist is a man psychologically scarred by the burns of past betrayals.
- The new alloy burns at a much higher temperature, making it ideal for the turbine.
- His polemic burns with a righteous indignation that is both compelling and unsettling.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BURNS: Bad Undesired Red Nasty Spots (for the noun). For the verb: Bright Ugly Red Nasty Sizzle.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESTRUCTION IS BURNING (e.g., 'burn through money'); INTENSE EMOTION IS HEAT/FIRE (e.g., 'burning passion'); PAINFUL EXPERIENCE IS A BURN (e.g., 'the betrayal left a burn').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'burns' for 'sunburn' as a condition; it's 'sunburn' (uncountable) or 'sunburned'. 'I have burns' implies serious injury, not just redness.
- Do not confuse verb 'burns' with 'barns' (сараи) in pronunciation.
- The phrase 'it burns' can describe spicy food sensation, not just fire.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'burns' as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'He has burn'). It is countable: 'He has a burn' / 'He has burns'.
- Misspelling as 'burns' for the surname vs. 'burns' for the verb/noun in context.
- Incorrect preposition: 'burns from the hot water' NOT 'burns by the hot water' (for cause).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'burns' used as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. As a noun, it primarily refers to injuries from heat, but can be from chemicals, radiation, or electricity. As a verb, it has many meanings including being on fire, feeling hot, or consuming resources.
Both are correct past tense/participle forms. 'Burned' is more common in American English, especially as a verb. 'Burnt' is more common in British English, particularly as an adjective (e.g., burnt offering).
Yes, frequently. E.g., 'The memory burns' (causes emotional pain), 'He burns through money' (spends quickly), 'She burns with ambition' (feels intensely).
In British English: /bɜːnz/ (with a long 'er' sound). In American English: /bɝːnz/ (with a rhotic 'ur' sound). The 's' is pronounced /z/.