Scald: meaning, definitions and examples

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scald

[skɔːld ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

in cooking

To burn or injure by hot liquid or steam. To heat a liquid almost to the boiling point. To subject to the action of boiling water or steam, as in cooking.

Synonyms

blister, boil, burn.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
scald	Used primarily when describing injuries caused by hot liquids or steam. Often relates to severe burns involving boiling water or steam. She scalded her hand while pouring boiling water. Be careful not to scald yourself with the hot soup.
burn	A broad term that generally describes damage to the skin or flesh caused by fire, heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation. The term can range from mild to severe injuries. She got a sunburn after spending the entire day at the beach. He burned his finger while lighting the candle.
blister	Describes a bubble on the skin filled with serum that forms from friction, burns, or other skin irritation. Often associated with mild burns or continuous rubbing. Wearing new shoes caused blisters on his feet. She developed a blister after touching the hot pan.
boil	Refers to a painful, pus-filled bump under the skin caused by infected hair follicles. The term can also relate to the activity of heating liquid until it bubbles and turns to vapor. He had a painful boil on his neck. Bring the water to a boil before adding the pasta.

Examples of usage

He scalded himself with the hot water.
The recipe calls for scalding the milk before adding it to the mixture.
After scalding the tomatoes, peel off the skin.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

medical

An injury caused by scalding.

Synonyms

blister, burn.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
scald	Refers to burns caused specifically by hot liquids or steam. Often used in kitchen or cooking contexts. She scalded her hand while pouring the boiling water into the cup The steam from the kettle can scald you if you're not careful
burn	A general term for damage to the skin caused by heat, sun, chemicals, or electricity. Used in a broad range of situations, including fire, cooking, sun exposure, etc. He burned his finger on the hot stove She got a bad sunburn after staying at the beach all day
blister	Describes a small bubble on the skin filled with serum, typically caused by friction, burning, or infection. Used in medical or general skin injury contexts. After hiking all day, he had blisters on his feet Wear your new shoes carefully to avoid blisters

Word

Description / Examples

scald

Refers to burns caused specifically by hot liquids or steam. Often used in kitchen or cooking contexts.

She scalded her hand while pouring the boiling water into the cup
The steam from the kettle can scald you if you're not careful

burn

A general term for damage to the skin caused by heat, sun, chemicals, or electricity. Used in a broad range of situations, including fire, cooking, sun exposure, etc.

He burned his finger on the hot stove
She got a bad sunburn after staying at the beach all day

blister

Describes a small bubble on the skin filled with serum, typically caused by friction, burning, or infection. Used in medical or general skin injury contexts.

After hiking all day, he had blisters on his feet
Wear your new shoes carefully to avoid blisters

Examples of usage

She suffered a scald on her hand from the hot steam.
The child was brought to the hospital with scalds on his legs.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'scald' comes from the Middle English 'scalden', derived from the Old Norse 'skalda', meaning 'to cause to burn'.
Related words include 'scalding', which describes the action or sensation of getting burned by hot liquid.

Health and Safety

Scalds are often more serious than other burns because they can affect larger areas of skin quickly.
Injury statistics reveal that scalds are a leading cause of burn-related visits to emergency rooms, particularly among young children.

Historical Usage

In medieval times, boiling water was sometimes used as a method for punishment, showcasing how serious scalding could be.
Historically, scalding was associated with witches and was believed to be a form of torture or trial.

Pop Culture

In literature and film, scalding is often portrayed as a dramatic moment, enhancing tension and fear.
The character of Scaldic in some fantasy tales can represent anger or danger, linking the word to emotional intensity.

Science

When liquids reach temperatures above 140°F (60°C), they can cause burns in just seconds.
Water's ability to scald is tied to its high thermal conductivity, allowing it to transfer heat quickly to skin.

Translations

Translations of the word "scald" in other languages:

🇵🇹 escaldar

🇮🇳 झुलसाना

🇩🇪 verbrühen

🇮🇩 menyiram air panas

🇺🇦 ошпарювати

🇵🇱 poparzyć

🇯🇵 やけどする (yakedo suru)

🇫🇷 ébouillanter

🇪🇸 escaldar

🇹🇷 haşlamak

🇰🇷 데다 (deda)

🇸🇦 تحرق

🇨🇿 opařit

🇸🇰 opariť

🇨🇳 烫伤 (tàng shāng)

🇸🇮 popariti

🇮🇸 skella

🇰🇿 қайнату

🇬🇪 დამწვრობა (damts'vrkoba)

🇦🇿 qaynatmaq

🇲🇽 escaldar

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,869, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.

...
25866 blacker
25867 chambered
25868 remanding
25869 scald
25870 goad
25871 fringing
25872 jabbed
...