burn up

present singular third person burns up · participle present burning up · participle past burned up · past burned up · participle past burnt up · past burnt up

1. intransitiveTo catch fire and burn until destroyed.

   The rocket may burn up on reentry.

   1 more example

   Near-synonyms: go up in smoke; see also Thesaurus:catch fire

   Synonyms: go up in smoke, catch fire, catch on fire, combust, conflagrate, fire, go up in flames, go up in smoke

2. transitiveTo destroy by burning.

   Before daylight, when the dragon flew home to sleep, he had burned up the hall and even the throne of the Geatish king.

   1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 41

3. transitiveTo anger; to annoy.

   His thoughtlessness really burns me up.

   1 more example

   Near-synonyms: incense; see also Thesaurus:enrage, Thesaurus:annoy

   Synonyms: incense, affront, aggravate, anger, antagonize, awrath, cheese off, cross

4. intransitiveTo be angry or annoyed.

   1 more example

   One morning […] we stood around the office talking and laughing, having a good time, when one man, Tim, made a job ^([sic]) about "fags." Right then we had to leave, and soon we were warming up our cars on the street. Naturally I was burning up about the comment, and decided to do something about it, though even as I got out of my car to walk up to Tim's, I wasn't sure what.

   1980 February 9, Bruce MacDonald, “Cultural Preparation”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 28, page 4

5. intransitiveTo be or feel overly hot or inflamed.

   Near-synonyms: steam, swelter

   2 more examples

   It's the middle of summer; I know it's going to be burning up outside.

   Now that we've been walking awhile, I'm burning up in this coat! Time to take it off.

   Synonyms: steam, swelter

   1. intransitivespecificallyTo experience a high fever.

      She felt the child's forehead and discovered that he was burning up!

      Synonyms: steam, swelter

6. datedTo ride a motorcycle or other vehicle at high speed.
7. intransitivebowlingTo use up too much energy when first bowled and to therefore not finishing strongly.

   Synonyms: roll out, burn out

1. misspellingMisspelling of burnup.