scald

1 of 5

verb

ˈskȯld 

scalded; scalding; scalds

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

scald

2 of 5

noun (1)

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

scald

3 of 5

adjective (1)

1

archaic : scabby, scurfy

2

archaic : shabby, contemptible

scald

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noun (2)

variant spelling of skald

: an ancient Scandinavian poet

broadly : bard

scald

5 of 5

adjective (2)

ˈskȯld 

: subjected to scalding

coffee … with scald cream

—Charles Kingsley

Examples of scald in a Sentence

Verb

The steam scalded his skin.

Scald the tomatoes in boiling water so that you can peel them more easily.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Maricopa County election officials withstood scalding attacks in 2020, a barrage of court cases and persistent criticism from the right — despite attempts from election officials of both parties to quell distrust and make the elections process more transparent. —Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024

For painful pimples, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends soaking a clean cloth or towel in warm (not scalding hot) water, then applying it to the affected spot for 10–15 minutes, three times a day. —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 1 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Several comics made light of high-risk behavior with flames, scald injury, contact injury, or burns. —Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2019

Noun

Tomatoes grow thicker skins to prevent sun scald that causes brown patches to form on the skin. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 24 July 2024

There are common diseases of hellebores in the Pacific Northwest, including black spot and black death, but this pattern of damage resembles sun scald more than either of the infectious conditions. —oregonlive, 17 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Adjective (1)

scall + -ed entry 1

Adjective (2)

alteration of scalded

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (1)

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1791, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scald

1 of 2 verb

ˈskȯld 

1

: to burn with or as if with hot liquid or steam

2

a

: to cover with boiling water or steam

b

: to bring to a temperature just below the boiling point

scald milk

3

: scorch entry 1 sense 1

scald

2 of 2 noun

: an injury to the body caused by scalding

Medical Definition

scald

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈskȯld 

: to burn with hot liquid or steam

scald

2 of 2 noun

: an injury to the body caused by scalding