Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sear
Sear
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Seared
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Searing
.] 1.
To wither; to dry up.
Shak.
2.
To burn (the surface of) to dryness and hardness; to cauterize; 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
. Also used figuratively. sear
the skin or fleshI’m
seared
with burning steel. Rowe.
It was in vain that the amiable divine tried to give salutary pain to that
seared
conscience. Macaulay.
The discipline of war, being a discipline in destruction of life, is a discipline in callousness. Whatever sympathies exist are
seared
. H. Spencer.
☞ Sear is allied to scorch in signification; but it is applied primarily to animal flesh, and has special reference to the effect of heat in marking the surface hard. Scorch is applied to flesh, cloth, or any other substance, and has no reference to the effect of hardness.
To sear up
, to close by searing.
“Cherish veins of good humor, and sear up those of ill.” Sir W. Temple.
Sear
,Noun.
The catch in a gunlock by which the hammer is held cocked or half cocked.
Sear spring
, the spring which causes the sear to catch in the notches by which the hammer is held.
Webster 1828 Edition
Sear
SEAR
,Verb.
T.
1. To burn to dryness and hardness the surface of any thing; to cauterize; to expose to a degree of heat that changes the color of the surface, ar makes it hard; as, to sear the skin or flesh.
I'm sear'd with burning steel. Rowe.