First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1scald
verb \ˈskȯld\
: to burn (someone or something) with hot liquid or steam
: to put (something) in hot liquid or steam for a brief time
: to heat (a liquid) until it is very hot but not boiling
Full Definition of SCALD
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
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Origin of SCALD
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
2scald
noun
: a burn left on the skin that is caused by hot liquid or steam
Full Definition of SCALD
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
See scald defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SCALD
1601
3scald
adjective
Definition of SCALD
2
archaic : shabby, contemptible
Origin of SCALD
scall + 1-ed
First Known Use: 1529
4scald
Definition of SCALD
variant of skald
5scald
adjective \ˈskȯld\
Definition of SCALD
: subjected to scalding <coffee…with scald cream — Charles Kingsley>
Origin of SCALD
alteration of scalded
First Known Use: 1791
SCALD Defined for Kids
1scald
verb \ˈskȯld\
scald·edscald·ing
Definition of SCALD for Kids
1
: to burn with or as if with hot liquid or steam
2
: to bring to a temperature just below the boiling point <scald milk>
2scald
noun
Definition of SCALD for Kids
: an injury caused by burning with hot liquid or steam
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