Sear1. (v.) To burn a surface to dryness and hardness; to cauterize; to brand; to expose to a degree of heat such as changes the color or the hardness and texture of the surface; to scorch; to make callous; as, to sear the skin or flesh. Also used figuratively.
2. (a.) Alt. of Sere.
3. (v.) To wither; to dry up.
4. (n.) The catch in a gunlock by which the hammer is held cocked or half cocked.
Thesaurus Entries
Sanforize, Sanforized, adust, air-dry, anhydrate, attaint, attenuate, attenuated, bake, baked, barbecue, baste, bedaub, besmear, besmirch, besmoke, bestain, blacken, blanch, blaze, blister, blot, blur, boil, braise, brand, brew, broil, brown, brush, burn, burn in, burn off, burn up, burnt, cast, cauterize, char, coal, coddle, consume, consumed, cook, corky, crack, cupel, cure, curry, darken, daub, dehumidify, dehydrate, dehydrated, desiccate, desiccated, devil, diminish, dirty, discolor, do, do to perfection, drain, dried, dried-up, droop, dry, dry up, emacerate, emacerated, emaciate, emaciated, evaporate, evaporated, exsiccate, exsiccated, fade, fade away, fire, flag, flame, found, fricassee, frizz, frizzle, fry, griddle, grill, heat, insolate, kiln, languish, macerate, mark, mat burn, mummified, mummify, oven-bake, oxidate, oxidize, pan, pan-broil, parboil, parch, parched, pine, poach, prepare, prepare food, preshrink, preshrunk, pyrolyze, roast, rub, saute, scald, scallop, scorch, scorched, seared, second-degree burn, sere, shirr, shrink, shrivel, shriveled, shriveled up, shrunk, shrunken, simmer, singe, sizzle, slubber, slur, smear, smirch, smoke, soak up, soil, solder, sponge, stain, steam, stew, stigmatize, stir-fry, sun, sun-dried, sun-dry, sunbaked, sunburn, sunscald, swab, swinge, taint, tarnish, thin, third-degree burn, toast, torrefy, towel, vesicate, vulcanize, waste, waste away, wasted, wasted away, weazen, weazened, weld, wilt, wind-dried, windburn, wipe, wither, withered, wizen, wizen-faced, wizened