English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj

scalding

Scalding (adj) means hot enough to burn the skin. Example: “Be careful — the soup is scalding hot.”

adj
1
Hot enough to burn the skin.
"Be careful — the soup is scalding hot."
2
Extremely harsh or critical.
"The critic wrote a scalding review of the new film."
noun
1
A burn caused by hot liquid or steam.
"The child suffered a scalding after pulling a hot cup off the table."

How to Use Scalding

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes something painfully hot, or a review/criticism that is unusually harsh.

Common pairings
scalding hot a scalding review scalding water

Word Forms

more scalding comparative, scaldings plural, scaldings plural, most scalding superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “scalding” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Be careful — the soup is _____ hot.

Etymology

From the verb "scald," ultimately tracing back to Latin excaldāre, "to bathe in hot water," from ex- + caldus, "hot."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for scalding

See all rhymes for scalding →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “scalding” mean?

The word “scalding” means hot enough to burn the skin. In plain terms, describes something painfully hot, or a review/criticism that is unusually harsh.

How do you use “scalding” in a sentence?

Here is “scalding” used in a sentence: “Be careful — the soup is scalding hot.”

What part of speech is “scalding”?

Depending on how it is used, “scalding” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “scalding” come from?

The word “scalding” comes from Latin. From the verb "scald," ultimately tracing back to Latin excaldāre, "to bathe in hot water," from ex- + caldus, "hot.".

How many meanings does “scalding” have?

“Scalding” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: hot enough to burn the skin.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial