To burn superficially so as to discolor or damage the texture of. See Synonyms at burn 1. 2. To dry out or wither with intense heat: The sun scorched the plains. 3. To destroy (land and buildings) by fire or military action so as to leave nothing salvageable to an enemy army. 4. To subject to severe censure; excoriate. 1. More @Wikipedia
Hover over any link to get a description of the article. Please note that search keywords are sometimes hidden within the full article and don't appear in the description or title.