burning

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of burn

comparative more burning · superlative most burning

1. So hot as to seem to burn (something).

   the burning sun

   2 more examples

   The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom. Whirling wreaths and columns of burning wind, rushed around and over them.

   1892, James Yoxall, chapter 5, in The Lonely Pyramid

   Hot summer streets and the pavements are burning, I sit around / Trying to smile, but the air is so heavy and dry

   1983 June 27, Sara Dallin; Siobhan Fahey; Keren Woodward; Steve Jolley, Tony Swain, “Cruel Summer”, in Bananarama, performed by Bananarama

   Synonyms: ardent, live

2. Feeling very hot.

   burning skin

3. Feeling great passion.

   her burning heart

4. Consuming; intense; inflaming; exciting; vehement; powerful.

   burning zeal

   2 more examples

   a burning passion

   like a young hound upon a burning scent

   1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar: Or, the Double Discovery. […], London: […] Richard Tonson and Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page number)

5. Being keenly discussed.

   a burning question; a burning issue

6. On fire.

   A firefighter puts water on a burning tree as flames approach a containment line, while fighting the King fire near Fresh Pond, California.

   2014 September 19, Andrew Gumbel, “California's burning up: firefighters rush to the scene as major wildfires scorch the state”, in The Guardian

   1 more example

   The driver remained at his post, while telling fireman Jim Nightall to get down on the track and run back to uncouple the burning wagon from the rest.

   2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948

plural burnings

1. The act by which something burns or is burned.

   It gives a fine delineation of the burnings of shame, disappointed ambition, and vengeance[…]

   1828, Timothy Flint, The Western Monthly Review, volume 1, page 403

   2 more examples

   The propriety of the dissolution, too, was speedily seen in the improved state of the public peace: for twelve years we hear little of Orange riots, and nothing of such burnings and wreckings as those of Maghera, Maghery, and Annahagh.

   1850, The Edinburgh Review, Or Critical Journal, volume 91, page 93

   The suspect is the 21-year-old son of a St. Landry Parish sheriff’s deputy and may have been influenced by “black metal” music and its “associated history with church burnings,” the state fire marshal’s office said.

   2019 April 12, Paul P. Murphy and Samira Said, “Louisiana arson suspect expressed disgust with Baptist churches on Facebook”, in CNN

2. A fire.

   The burnings continued all day.

3. businessThe purposeful removal of certain number of coins in circulation, by sending them to a public address where the private keys cannot be obtained (called burn address, eater address or black hole), which usually should be available on the blockchain for anyone to review such a transaction. It’s a one-way address with no ability to reverse the transaction or withdraw the coins. For all practical purposes, the asset no longer exists (it has been “burned”). The act of burning effectively removes tokens from the available supply.
4. A fiery pain.