What is burn? Pronunciation and usage in English

burn means . Learn how to pronounce and use burn through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of burn

burnverb

/bəːn/
Definition & pronunciation of burn

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "burn" in English. There are actually two common pronunciations, and it depends on where you are and what kind of "burn" you're talking about.

1. "Burn" as in to ignite (the most common pronunciation):

  • Pronunciation: /bɜːrn/ (British English) or /bɝn/ (American English)
  • Breakdown:
    • "b": Pronounced like the "b" in "ball."
    • "ur": This is the tricky part. It's often described as a short, unstressed "er" sound, almost like you're saying "ber." Think of it like the "er" in "bird" (but shorter and less emphasized). Some Americans pronounce it more like "bur" – it's a subtle difference.
    • "n": Pronounced like the "n" in "now."
  • Emphasis: The emphasis is on the first syllable ("bur").

2. "Burn" as in a skin condition (like a sunburn):

  • Pronunciation: /bɝːn/ (British English) or /bɝn/ (American English) - This pronunciation often has a longer "u" sound.
  • Breakdown:
    • "b": Same as above – like the "b" in "ball."
    • "er": Pronounced with a longer, more drawn-out "u" sound – think of the "u" in "blue" but held a little longer.
    • "n": Same as above.
  • Emphasis: The emphasis is more evenly distributed between the first and second syllables.

Here’s a quick summary table:

Meaning Pronunciation Notes
To ignite /bɜːrn/ (BrE) or /bɝn/ (AmE) Short "er" sound, emphasis on "bur"
Skin condition /bɝːn/ (BrE) or /bɝn/ (AmE) Longer "u" sound, more even emphasis

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you located? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia) – This helps me suggest the most common pronunciation for your region.
  • What context are you using the word in? (e.g., talking about a fire, talking about a rash)

Usage and examples with the word burn in English

Let's break down how to use the word "burn" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings! Here's a categorized breakdown, with examples:

1. Literal Burning (Physical Heat)

  • Definition: To be on fire; to be heated until it produces flames.
  • Examples:
    • "The wood burns brightly in the fireplace."
    • "The sun burns fiercely on a hot day."
    • "He burned his hand on the hot pan."
    • "The soldier burned his flag in protest."

2. Burning Something (Destroying with Fire)

  • Definition: To consume something with fire.
  • Examples:
    • "Don't burn that letter – it's important."
    • "The forest was burned by the wildfire."
    • “The arsonist burned down the building.”

3. Burning (A Feeling – Intense Emotion)

  • Definition: To feel a strong, often unpleasant, emotion like anger, sadness, or frustration. This is a more figurative use.
  • Examples:
    • "She burned with jealousy when she saw her friend with another man."
    • "He burned with rage after hearing the news."
    • "A deep sadness burned within her."
    • “I burned at the mouth to prove myself.” (Figuratively, wanting something intensely)

4. Burning (A Process – To Roast or Brown)

  • Definition: To cook food by direct exposure to heat.
  • Examples:
    • “We burned the potatoes until they were crispy.”
    • “The steak was burned on the outside but still raw inside.”

5. Burning (Slang - To Criticize/Put Down)

  • Definition: (Informal) To criticize someone severely or harshly; to insult.
  • Examples:
    • "Don't burn me!" (Responding to harsh criticism)
    • "He burned her with his sarcastic remarks."
    • "Stop trying to burn me with your negativity."

6. Burning (Computer/Technology)

  • Definition: (Computing) To process data quickly; to overheat a computer.
  • Examples:
    • "The CPU is burning up – we need to cool it down."
    • "This program burns a lot of memory."

7. Burning (Figurative – To Waste)

  • Definition: To waste something, often time or energy.
  • Examples:
    • "He was burning himself out trying to do too much."
    • "Don't burn your vacation time – take some time off!"

8. “Burn” as a Verb Phrase (Idioms)

  • Burn out: To become exhausted from overwork or stress. ("She burned out after working 80 hours a week.")
  • Burn bridges: To damage relationships so that you can’t come back. ("He burned bridges with his colleagues when he left the company abruptly.")
  • Burn something up: (Often in tests or competitions) To excel or perform exceptionally well. ("She burned up the test!")

Tips for Using "Burn" Correctly:

  • Context is key: The meaning of "burn" depends entirely on how it's used in the sentence.
  • Figurative vs. Literal: Be aware of whether you’re talking about actual fire or a strong feeling.
  • Slang: The “burn” slang usage is informal and often used defensively.

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What specific context are you thinking about when you want to use the word "burn"? (e.g., writing a story, describing a situation, etc.)

Synonyms for the word burn

Idioms of the word burn

burn your bridges
to do something that makes it impossible to return to the previous situation later
  • Think carefully before you resign—you don't want to burn your bridges.
burn the candle at both ends
to become very tired by trying to do too many things and going to bed late and getting up early
    burn your fingers | get your fingers burnt
    to suffer as a result of doing something without realizing the possible bad results, especially in business
    • He got his fingers badly burnt dabbling in the stock market.
    burn a hole in your pocket
    if money burns a hole in your pocket, you want to spend it as soon as you have it
      burn the midnight oil
      to study or work until late at night
        burn rubber
        (informal)to drive very fast
          burn (something) to a cinder/crisp
          to become completely burnt, especially because it has been cooked for too long
          • By the time I got home, the cake was burnt to a cinder.
          crash and burn
          (informal)to go wrong or to fail badly and suddenly
          • His career crashed and burned after he threatened a journalist.
          • The stock markets are getting ready to crash and burn.
          • She continued to crash and burn through personal controversies that included driving drunk.
          somebody’s ears are burning
          a person thinks that other people are talking about them, especially in an unkind way
          • ‘I bumped into your ex-wife last night.’ ‘I thought I could feel my ears burning!’
          have money to burn
          to have so much money that you do not have to be careful with it

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