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sears

C1-C2 / Low Frequency
UK/sɪəz/US/sɪrz/

Formal, Literary, Culinary (technical), Figurative

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Definition

Meaning

verb; to burn or scorch the surface of something with intense dry heat, causing pain, damage, or discolouration.

verb; to cause a deep emotional pain or lasting psychological hurt; to brand or fix (an idea, memory, or image) in the mind. Also refers to the technique of cooking meat quickly at high temperature to seal in juices.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily transitive. In emotional contexts, often passive (e.g., 'seared into my memory'). Culinary sense is technical but widely understood. The burning sense is literal and graphic.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant meaning differences. UK usage may show a slightly stronger preference for the figurative 'seared into memory' in formal writing. US usage more likely in culinary contexts ('sear the steak').

Connotations

Strongly negative for literal burning/pain; neutral-positive for culinary technique; intense/indelible for figurative use.

Frequency

Equally low-frequency in both varieties, slightly more common in American culinary writing.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
seared into memoryseared fleshsear the meatsearing pain
medium
seared by fireseared with a branding ironsearing heatseared conscience
weak
seared imageseared landscapeseared surfaceseared mind

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[Subject] sears [Object] (with/instrumental phrase)[Subject] is seared into [Object: memory/mind][Subject] sears [Object: meat] on [Location: pan/grill]

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

cauterizecharblistertorch

Neutral

scorchsingebrandburn

Weak

heatbrowntoastmark

Vocabulary

Antonyms

freezecoolsoothehealerase

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “seared into one's memory/consciousness”
  • “searing indictment”
  • “a searing experience”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Rare; possible in metaphorical criticism: 'The report delivered a searing critique of management.'

Academic

Figurative use in humanities: 'The trauma seared the collective identity of the nation.'

Everyday

Uncommon in casual talk. Most likely in cooking: 'Sear the chicken before roasting.'

Technical

Culinary arts: a specific high-heat cooking technique; medical: cauterization.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • The explosion seared the paintwork on the vehicles.
  • That image is forever seared into my mind.
  • Sear the lamb in a very hot pan for two minutes.

American English

  • The acid seared the metal surface.
  • His betrayal seared her soul.
  • First, you sear the steak to lock in the flavors.

adjective

British English

  • The searing heat of the desert was unbearable.
  • She gave him a searing look of contempt.

American English

  • He felt a searing pain in his shoulder.
  • The documentary was a searing exposé of corruption.

Examples

By CEFR Level

B1
  • The hot pan will sear the fish.
  • I felt a searing pain in my foot.
B2
  • The journalist wrote a searing critique of government policy.
  • Sear the beef on all sides before placing it in the oven.
C1
  • The horrors of war were seared indelibly into his consciousness.
  • Her searingly honest performance earned her critical acclaim.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a hot iron SEARS a brand onto leather, leaving a permanent mark. The word itself sounds sharp and painful like its meaning.

Conceptual Metaphor

EMOTIONAL PAIN IS PHYSICAL BURNING; MEMORY IS A PHYSICAL IMPRINT (branded/seared).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Не путать с 'search' (искать).
  • Не всегда переводится как 'жечь' в кулинарии (техника 'обжаривать до корочки').
  • В переносном смысле ближе к 'впечататься', 'выжечься', а не просто 'запомниться'.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing 'sear' with 'seer' (prophet) or 'shear' (cut).
  • Using intransitively incorrectly: *'The meat sears quickly.' (Better: 'The meat sears quickly on a hot grill.').
  • Misspelling as 'seers'.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
To achieve a good crust on the steak, you must it in a smoking hot pan.
Multiple Choice

In which context is 'sear' used NEUTRALLY or POSITIVELY?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No. While literal burning is primary, it's widely used figuratively for emotional pain and technically in cooking for browning meat at high heat.

'Sear' implies deeper, more intense contact, often for marking or sealing. 'Scorch' suggests superficial burning/discolouring over a broader area. 'Singe' is very light, surface-level burning, often on edges or hairs.

Typically no. Its core is intense dry heat. Antonyms like 'freeze' are used for extreme cold. 'Searing cold' is a possible but rare poetic oxymoron.

No. 'Sears' (capitalized) is primarily a proper noun (the former American department store chain). The common verb 'sears' is not capitalized.