From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsearsear /sɪə $ sɪr/ verb 1 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive]BURN to burn something with a sudden powerful heat The heat seared their skin.2 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] to have a very strong sudden and unpleasant effect on you Pain was searing through her. The image was seared into his brain.3 [transitive]DFC to cook the outside of a piece of meat quickly at a high temperature, in order to keep its juices in seared tuna steaks→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
sear• It was sensuality sharp and searing as fire, burning the soul to tinder.• Her glance seared his hard, angular face.• Another bolt of lightning struck behind him, and Eugene felt the air seared into ozone on either side of him.• The soft yellow light which looks so gentle to you but which sears my guts.• He struggled to his feet, but was no sooner standing than a searing pain tore through his ankle.• The pain was searing, so that I fell backwards, and though I struggled, I could not stand up again.• The hot fat sears the bottom and gives a nice flavor to the bread; the cool pan gives a softer bottom.• Brush fires seared the hillsides.• If you sear the outside of the meat, you get rid of any other bacteria.Origin sear Old English searian, from sear; SERE 