sear

1 of 4

adjective

less common spelling of sere

1
: being dried and withered
2
archaic : threadbare

sear

2 of 4

verb

seared; searing; sears

intransitive verb

: to cause withering or drying

transitive verb

1
: to make withered and dry : parch
2
a
: to burn, scorch, mark, or injure with or as if with sudden application of intense heat
b
: to cook the surface of quickly with intense heat
sear a steak

sear

3 of 4

noun (1)

: a mark or scar left by searing

sear

4 of 4

noun (2)

: the catch that holds the hammer of a gun's lock at cock or half cock

Examples of sear in a Sentence

Verb The tree was seared by lightning. The flames seared my skin. The steak was seared over a hot grill.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
While far below January’s searing tally, that estimate would be a continuation of a historically strong labor market that’s stayed resilient against interest rates at a 23-year high. Krystal Hur, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Noé Hernández sears up the screen as Dalia’s eager-to-help coworker Carlos. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 But the treatment of foreign workers, who labored in the searing heat and some of whom died in the process of delivering the World Cup, was the focus of criticism for more than 10 years in the lead-up to the tournament. James Robson, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024 Add this top-selling cast iron skillet to your repertoire to turn sad, pale meals into perfect seared, crispy, and piping hot masterpieces. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024 Lamb shanks, shoulder, and leg (bone-in or boneless) are best for braising or slow-cooking, whereas quick-cooking lamb chops can be seared, roasted, or grilled. Zoe Denenberg, Bon Appétit, 29 Feb. 2024 Italy’s Oscar nominee offers an immigration story that features searing realism – and resilience. Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024 As the doctors began the painstaking process of removing the mass — an orchestrated flurry of fingers tying knots, scalpels slicing flesh, cautery pens searing blood vessels shut — the room grew thick with anticipation. Megan Molteni, STAT, 21 Feb. 2024 Even the usual rules of smart cooking—sear your meat! Benjamin Dubow, Longreads, 20 Feb. 2024
Noun
Another would ban auto sears, which convert semi-automatic handguns into automatic weapons. Sarah Rankin, Quartz, 7 Feb. 2024 The fractured parts included the tip of the trigger, the sear and the hammer. Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024 There’s no need for an initial sear on the meat either; that sauce packs more than enough umami flavor. Inés Anguiano, Bon Appétit, 13 Feb. 2024 It’s designed with loop handles for easy maneuvering, two drip spouts to help drain grease, and high ridges to create the perfect sear lines. Amber C. Snider, Peoplemag, 28 Dec. 2023 What Could Be Better The heat conduction was spotty delivering an uneven sear in some of our tests. Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2023 With the ability to fry, braise, sear, steam, sauté, and boil all within one pot, this Dutch oven can replace a variety of cookware and is indispensable in the kitchen. Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 19 Jan. 2024 Here, a quick marinade lends the steaks smokey-sharp flavor, while a quick sear in a blazing-hot pan leaves the meat browned outside and blushing within. Kitty Greenwald, WSJ, 26 Dec. 2023 To nail the perfect rib-eye without smoking out your friends or ruining such a splurge, reverse-reverse sear by developing a crust first on the stovetop, then letting the meat become tender in a low oven. Genevieve Ko, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English seren, from Old English sēarian to become dry, from sēar sere

Noun (2)

probably from Middle French serre grasp, from serrer to press, grasp, from Old French, from Late Latin serare to bolt, latch, from Latin sera bar for fastening a door

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

1874, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1596, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near sear

Cite this Entry

“Sear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sear. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sear

1 of 2 verb
ˈsi(ə)r
1
: to cause withering or drying : parch, shrivel
harsh winds that sear and burn
2
a
: to burn, scorch, mark, or injure with or as if with sudden heat
b
: to cook the surface of quickly with intense heat
sear a steak

sear

2 of 2 noun
: a mark or scar left by searing

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