Burn
/bɜːrn/noun
To damage, consume, or be consumed by fire or intense heat.
Did you know?Old English distinguished between burning spontaneously and causing something else to burn, using related forms that eventually merged into modern “burn.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰer-
“To burn or shine; a proposed ancient root connected with fire and brightness.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*brinnaną / *brannjaną
“To burn; to cause to burn.”
Old English
OE
beornan / bærnan
“To burn spontaneously / to set alight or burn something.”
Middle English
ME
burnen
“To burn, be on fire, or scorch.”
14th Century
English
burn
“The modern shortened form used for both intransitive and transitive senses.”
Modern English
English
burn
“To consume with fire or heat, or to suffer injury from heat.”