Scorch \Scorch\, v. i. 1. To be burnt on the surface; to be parched; to be dried up.
Scatter a little mungy straw or fern amongst your seedlings, to prevent the roots from scorching. --Mortimer.
2. To burn or be burnt.
He laid his long forefinger on the scarlet letter, which forthwith seemed to scorch into Hester's breast, as if it had been red hot. --Hawthorne.
3. To ride or drive at great, usually at excessive, speed; -- applied chiefly to automobilists and bicyclists. [Colloq.] -- {Scorch"er}, n. [Colloq.]
scorcher \scorch"er\ a very hot day. [Informal] [PJC]
It's too early to cite statistics, but a survey of resort hotels in the Coachella Valley surrounding Palm Springs indicated this winter tourist season looks like a scorcher, with a hot streak of early bookings.
Wednesday was another scorcher for the Midwest, where dozens of record high temperatures were set, according to the National Weather Service.
High temperatures continued to plague much of the nation early today, following Monday's scorcher in which heat records were broken in eight states.