scald

1 of 5

verb

scalded; scalding; scalds

transitive verb

1
: to burn with or as if with hot liquid or steam
2
a
: to subject to the action of boiling water or steam
b
: to bring to a temperature just below the boiling point
scald milk
3
: scorch

intransitive verb

1
: to scald something
2
: to become scalded

scald

2 of 5

noun (1)

1
: an injury to the body caused by scalding
2
: an act or process of scalding
3
: any of various conditions or diseases of plants or fruits marked especially by a usually brownish discoloration of tissue

scald

3 of 5

adjective (1)

1
archaic : scabby, scurfy
2
archaic : shabby, contemptible

scald

4 of 5

noun (2)

variant spelling of skald

: an ancient Scandinavian poet
broadly : bard

scald

5 of 5

adjective (2)

: subjected to scalding
coffee … with scald creamCharles Kingsley

Examples of scald in a Sentence

Verb The steam scalded his skin. Scald the tomatoes in boiling water so that you can peel them more easily.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
So how does a hitting coach handle someone as scalding as Fitzgerald? Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 5 Aug. 2024 The body of King Aegon II, scalded and pulverized, has been carted home from battle in a produce crate. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 14 July 2024
Adjective
Several comics made light of high-risk behavior with flames, scald injury, contact injury, or burns. Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2019
Noun
Tomatoes grow thicker skins to prevent sun scald that causes brown patches to form on the skin. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 24 July 2024 There are common diseases of hellebores in the Pacific Northwest, including black spot and black death, but this pattern of damage resembles sun scald more than either of the infectious conditions. oregonlive, 17 Sep. 2023 See all Example Sentences for scald 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French *escalder, eschauder, from Late Latin excaldare to wash in warm water, from Latin ex- + calida, calda warm water, from feminine of calidus warm, from calēre to be warm — more at lee

Adjective (1)

scall + -ed entry 1

Adjective (2)

alteration of scalded

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (1)

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1791, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scald was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near scald

Cite this Entry

“Scald.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scald. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

scald

1 of 2 verb
1
: to burn with or as if with hot liquid or steam
2
a
: to cover with boiling water or steam
b
: to bring to a temperature just below the boiling point
scald milk
3

scald

2 of 2 noun
: an injury to the body caused by scalding

Medical Definition

scald

1 of 2 transitive verb
: to burn with hot liquid or steam

scald

2 of 2 noun
: an injury to the body caused by scalding
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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