sear
C1Formal/Literary/Culinary
Definition
Meaning
To burn or scorch the surface of something with intense heat.
To cause emotional pain or trauma; to brand or mark permanently; to wither or dry up.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a transitive verb. In cooking, refers to browning meat quickly at high heat to seal in juices. Figuratively, implies a deep, lasting, and often painful impression.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The culinary sense is universal. The figurative/literary sense is slightly more common in British literary contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries connotations of irreversible damage, intense heat, and permanence.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; more common in written English, especially descriptive, literary, or culinary texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] sears [Object] (with [Instrument])[Object] is seared (by [Subject])[Subject] sears [Object] [Adjunct of result]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “seared into one's memory/consciousness”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Potentially metaphorical: 'The scandal seared the company's reputation.'
Academic
Rare, except in literary analysis or historical descriptions of trauma.
Everyday
Most common in cooking instructions: 'Sear the steak for two minutes on each side.'
Technical
Culinary arts: specific high-heat cooking technique. Metallurgy/engineering: surface treatment with heat.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Sear the lamb in a very hot pan before roasting.
- The image was seared indelibly into her mind.
- The hot iron seared the fabric.
American English
- Sear the chicken breasts to get a good crust.
- The reporter's words seared his conscience.
- The desert sun seared the earth.
adverb
British English
- The sun beat down searingly on the metal roof.
- The memory returned searingly clear.
American English
- The criticism landed searingly hard.
- The light shone searingly bright.
adjective
British English
- The searing heat of the summer was unbearable.
- He felt a searing pain in his side.
- She gave him a searing look of contempt.
American English
- The searing indictment of the policy came from within.
- A searing headache forced him to lie down.
- The documentary offered a searing critique.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cook will sear the meat first.
- Be careful, the pan is very hot and will sear your skin.
- You need to sear the steak on both sides to lock in the flavour.
- The tragic news seared her heart.
- The chef demonstrated how to properly sear scallops without overcooking them.
- The experience of war was seared into the veteran's memory.
- Searing the surface of the meat creates the Maillard reaction, which develops complex flavours.
- Her searingly honest autobiography laid bare the family's secrets.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CHEF with a TEAR in his eye because he SEARed the steak too much. (SEAR sounds like 'see' + 'are' – you SEE the AREa that is burnt).
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL PAIN IS PHYSICAL BURNING (e.g., 'searing grief'), MEMORY IS A BRAND (e.g., 'seared into my mind').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'искать' (to search).
- Не всегда переводится как 'жечь' (to burn) – часто означает поверхностное обжигание, подрумянивание.
- В переносном смысле близко к 'выжигать', 'отпечатываться'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing spelling with 'seer' (a prophet) or 'sere' (dry and withered).
- Using intransitively (e.g., 'The pain sears' is less common than 'The pain seared him').
- Overusing the figurative sense in casual conversation.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'sear' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its most concrete, everyday use is culinary, it is frequently used in literary and figurative contexts to describe emotional pain, vivid memories, or intense heat.
'Sear' implies intense, quick, surface-level heat (often for effect, like in cooking). 'Scorch' implies burning superficially, damaging the surface. 'Burn' is the general term and can imply any degree of damage from slight to complete destruction.
Very rarely. Its primary use is as a verb. The related adjective 'searing' is common. The noun 'sear' might refer to the mark or act of searing in highly specialized contexts.
Use it with nouns related to memory, emotion, or sensation to imply something is painfully and permanently impressed. Common structures: 'seared into my memory/mind/consciousness', 'a searing pain/truth/critique'.