burn something down Definition

burn¹
verb burned, burnt, burning

tr & intr
1. To be on fire or set something on fire.

Thesaurus: blaze, flame, oxidize, consume, incinerate, flash, flare, cremate, conflagrate, sear, brand, char, cauterize, fire; Antonym: extinguish, put out, quench.
tr & intr
2. To damage or injure, or be damaged or injured, by fire or heat.

Thesaurus: scorch, char, sear, roast, toast, parch, singe, scald, wither.
3. To use something as fuel.
tr & intr
4. To char or scorch, or become charred or scorched.
5. To make (a hole, etc) by or as if by fire or heat, etc.

Example: Acid can burn holes in material
intr
6. To be or feel hot.
tr & intr
7. To feel or make something feel a hot or stinging pain.

Example: Vodka burns my throat
intr
8. colloq
To want to do it very much.
Example: is burning to get his revenge
Form: be burning to do something (usually)
intr
9. To feel strong emotion.

Example: was burning with shame
Form: be burning with something (especially)
10. To use (coal, oil, etc) as fuel.
tr & intr
11. To kill or die by fire.

Form: burn to death (now usually)
Form: burn alive

noun

1. An injury or mark caused by fire, heat, acid, friction, etc.
2. Pain felt in a muscle, experienced as a result of the build-up of lactic acid during demanding exercise.
3. An act of firing the engines of a space rocket so as to produce thrust.
4. A very fast ride eg on a motorcycle or speedboat.

Example: went for a burn on the bike
Form: burn-up (also)

Idiom: burn one's boats (burn one's bridges)

colloq
To do something which makes it impossible for one to return to one's former situation or way of life, etc; to destroy all chance of escape or retreat.

Idiom: burn the candle at both ends

To exhaust oneself by trying to do too much, usually by starting work very early in the morning and staying up late at night.

Idiom: burn one's fingers (get one's fingers burnt)

colloq
To suffer, often financially, as a result of getting involved in or interfering with something foolish, dangerous, risky, etc.

Idiom: burn a hole in one's pocket

Said of money that one is very eager to spend: to be extremely difficult or tempting not to spend. See also money to burn under money.

Idiom: burn the midnight oil

To work late into the night.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon biernan to be on fire, and bærnan to cause to burn.

Phrasal Verb: burn down

Said of a large structure such as a building: to be destroyed by fire or burnt to the ground.

Phrasal Verb: burn something down

To destroy (a building, etc) by fire.

Phrasal Verb: burn out

To burn up completely and be reduced to nothing.Said of a rocket engine: to stop working when the fuel is used up.

Phrasal Verb: burn someone or oneself out

To exhaust them or oneself by too much work or exercise.

Phrasal Verb: burn something out

To make it stop working from overuse or overheating.

Phrasal Verb: burn up

To be destroyed by fire, heat or acid, etc.To become very angry.Said of a fire, etc: to increase in activity; to blaze or flare up. See also burn-up.

Phrasal Verb: burn someone up

To make them very angry.
Example: Her letter really burned me up

Phrasal Verb: burn something up

To destroy it by fire, heat or acid, etc.Said of an engine: to use up fuel in large quantities.