Scalding: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring to extremely hot liquids or steam that can cause burns upon contact.

• Be careful with the scalding water from the kettle.
• The scalding steam from the pot burned her hand.

Used in a range of scenarios to describe very high temperatures capable of causing damage, including fires and hot surfaces.

• He touched the burning stove and got a blister.
• The building was burning when the firefighters arrived.

Primarily used for describing cooking at high temperatures, especially when referring to meat or vegetables in an oven. Sometimes used informally to describe extreme heat, often humorously.

• She is roasting a chicken for dinner.
• It's roasting outside today – must be over 100 degrees!

Typically used to describe cooking meat at very high heat to create a caramelized crust. Also used metaphorically to describe intense heat or pain.

• The chef is searing the steak to perfection.
• The searing heat of the desert was almost unbearable.

Use 'scalding' when referring to burns caused by hot liquids or steam. It generally applies to less severe burns compared to other types.

• He got a scalding burn from accidentally spilling hot coffee on his hand

Use 'burn' for general situations where skin or other materials are damaged by heat, fire, chemicals, radiation, or electricity. It can vary in severity from mild to severe.

• She suffered a burn after touching the hot stove

Use 'wound' to describe a specific type of injury where there is a break in the skin, often caused by a cut, puncture, or laceration. This term usually implies that the skin is open and the tissue is damaged.

• The soldier had a deep wound on his leg that needed immediate medical attention

Use 'injury' in a broader sense for any kind of physical harm or damage to the body, which may include cuts, bruises, fractures, or burns.

• He had to go to the emergency room due to a serious injury from the car accident