Explanation at your level:
When something is on fire, it burns. If you touch a hot stove, it burns your hand. It is a very hot feeling.
You use burns for fire or heat. For example, "The sun burns my skin in summer." You can also say "The candle burns for hours." It is a simple way to describe heat.
In this level, you can use burns for more than just fire. You can talk about "burning calories" when you exercise. It is also used for strong emotions, like when you feel a "burning desire" to do something.
At this level, you will encounter more idiomatic uses. We use burns in phrases like "burn bridges" or "burn the midnight oil." It helps you express complex ideas about effort, exhaustion, and social consequences.
Advanced learners use burns to describe abstract concepts. You might discuss how a political scandal "burns" a reputation or how a specific chemical process "burns" through materials. It is about nuance and intensity.
At the mastery level, you understand the etymological roots and the literary power of the word. You can use it in metaphors to describe the "burning" of time or the "burning" intensity of a character's internal conflict in a novel.
واژه در 30 ثانیه
- Used to describe fire and heat.
- Can be literal or figurative.
- Commonly used in idioms.
- Simple present form is 'burns'.
When we use the word burns, we are usually talking about the process of combustion. Think of a campfire or a candle; these things burn to create light and heat.
Beyond just fire, we use this word to describe damage. If you leave toast in the toaster too long, it burns. It changes from bread to a charred, black substance.
Finally, it has a figurative side. If you are really angry, you might say your face burns with rage. It describes an intense, uncomfortable, or powerful feeling that feels like heat.
The word burn comes from the Old English word bærnan, which meant to light or kindle. It shares roots with the Old High German word brinnan.
Historically, it was used to describe everything from cooking food to the destructive power of forest fires. It has remained a core part of the Germanic language family for over a thousand years.
Interestingly, the word has kept its basic meaning throughout history. While other words have changed their definitions significantly, burns has stayed linked to heat and fire since the Middle Ages.
You will see burns used in many contexts. In daily life, we talk about things like "the sun burns my skin" or "the candle burns low."
In formal settings, you might hear about "burning calories" or "burning fossil fuels." These are common collocations used in health and environmental discussions.
The register is generally neutral. Whether you are talking to a friend or writing a report, burns is a perfectly acceptable and clear verb to use.
Burn the midnight oil: To work late into the night. Example: I have a big exam, so I have to burn the midnight oil.
Burn bridges: To destroy relationships permanently. Example: Don't quit your job in a way that burns bridges.
Burn a hole in your pocket: To have money you want to spend quickly. Example: That cash is burning a hole in my pocket!
Burn out: To become exhausted from overwork. Example: If you don't take breaks, you will burn out.
Burn the candle at both ends: To work very hard without resting. Example: She is burning the candle at both ends lately.
As a verb, burns is the third-person singular present form. For example: "The fire burns brightly."
The IPA for burns is /bɜːrnz/ in American English and /bɜːnz/ in British English. The 'r' is often dropped in British pronunciation.
It rhymes with words like turns, learns, churns, yearns, and urns. Remember that the stress is always on the single syllable.
Fun Fact
It is one of the oldest verbs in the English language.
Pronunciation Guide
The 'r' is silent or very soft.
The 'r' is clearly pronounced.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'r' in UK English
- Confusing with 'turns'
- Stressing the wrong syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to speak
Easy to listen
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
پیشرفته
Grammar to Know
Third Person Singular
He burns
Active Voice
The fire burns
Phrasal Verbs
burn out
Examples by Level
The fire burns.
fire/is-burning
Subject-verb agreement
The stove burns.
stove/is-hot
Simple present
The sun burns.
sun/is-hot
Third person singular
He burns the toast.
he/makes-toast-black
Active voice
The candle burns.
candle/is-lit
Simple present
It burns my skin.
it/hurts/skin
Object pronoun
The wood burns.
wood/is-fire
Subject-verb
The light burns.
light/is-bright
Simple present
The forest burns in the summer.
The candle burns all night.
The soup burns if you don't stir it.
The sun burns brightly today.
The gas burns to heat the house.
The paper burns quickly.
The skin burns after too much sun.
The oil burns in the lamp.
He burns calories at the gym.
The candle burns down to the base.
The desire for success burns within him.
The toast burns if you leave it too long.
The memory of that day burns in my mind.
The fuel burns efficiently in the engine.
The sun burns through the clouds.
The anger burns in his eyes.
He burns the midnight oil to finish his project.
She refuses to burn bridges with her former boss.
The scandal burns his reputation.
The athlete burns with ambition.
The fire burns out before morning.
The intense heat burns the crops.
The frustration burns inside her.
He burns with curiosity about the world.
The injustice burns in the hearts of the people.
The engine burns fuel at an alarming rate.
The memory burns bright despite the years.
The secret burns a hole in his conscience.
The sun burns across the horizon.
The controversy burns through the news cycle.
The passion burns with a quiet intensity.
The truth burns away all lies.
The city burns with the fires of revolution.
The star burns with a dying light.
The shame burns through his very soul.
The debate burns on for hours.
The legacy burns on in their children.
The hatred burns beneath the surface.
The fire burns through the dry brush.
The candle burns at both ends of the night.
ترکیبهای رایج
Idioms & Expressions
"burn the midnight oil"
work late
I have to burn the midnight oil for this project.
casual"burn bridges"
ruin relationships
Don't burn bridges when you leave.
neutral"burn out"
exhaustion
I am starting to burn out.
casual"burn a hole in one's pocket"
wanting to spend money
That money is burning a hole in my pocket.
casual"burn the candle at both ends"
overworking
He is burning the candle at both ends.
neutral"burn up"
to have a fever
The child is burning up.
casualEasily Confused
both involve heat
bake is for cooking, burn is for damage
I bake bread, but I burn toast.
both relate to heat
fire is a noun, burn is a verb
The fire burns the wood.
both raise temperature
heat is neutral, burn is destructive
I heat the soup, I don't burn it.
they rhyme
different meanings entirely
The fire burns while the wheel turns.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + burns + Object
The sun burns my skin.
Subject + burns + Adverb
The candle burns brightly.
Subject + burns + with + Noun
He burns with anger.
Subject + burns + down + Object
The fire burns down the house.
Subject + burns + through + Object
The acid burns through the metal.
خانواده کلمه
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
مرتبط
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
اشتباهات رایج
Burn is usually transitive or intransitive without 'to'.
Burned is standard US; burnt is common UK/adjective.
The prepositions change the meaning.
Burn is only for heat.
The plural noun is 'burns', but the verb form is different.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a candle in your kitchen.
Native Speakers
Use it for work exhaustion.
Cultural Insight
Burning bridges is a serious social taboo.
Grammar Shortcut
Always check for 's' in present tense.
Say It Right
Rhyme it with 'turns'.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it for cold.
Did You Know?
It's 1000 years old!
Study Smart
Use flashcards for idioms.
Verb Patterns
Use 'burn with' for emotions.
Context
Use 'burn down' for buildings.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
B-U-R-N: Big Under-heat Really Noticeable.
Visual Association
A bright orange flame.
Word Web
چالش
Write three sentences using 'burns'.
ریشه کلمه
Old English
Original meaning: to kindle or set on fire
بافت فرهنگی
Be careful when using 'burn' to describe people, as it can be offensive.
Commonly used in idioms about work-life balance.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Cooking
- burn the toast
- burn the dinner
- don't let it burn
Science
- burns fuel
- burns oxygen
- combustion process
Work
- burn out
- burn the midnight oil
- burn bridges
Nature
- sun burns
- forest burns
- fire burns
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever burned toast?"
"Do you ever burn the midnight oil?"
"What makes you burn with anger?"
"How do you avoid burning out at work?"
"Have you ever seen a forest fire burn?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you burned something.
Describe what 'burning with ambition' means to you.
How do you stay calm when you feel like you are burning out?
Reflect on the phrase 'don't burn your bridges'.
سوالات متداول
8 سوالBoth are correct; burned is more common in US English.
No, it is strictly for heat.
The noun is 'a burn'.
Yes, it is the third-person singular present.
It means to be exhausted.
Yes, like 'burns with anger'.
It is often treated as regular (burned), but 'burnt' is also used.
Like 'turns'.
خودت رو بسنج
The fire ___ brightly.
Third-person singular.
What does 'burns' mean?
Burn is related to fire.
You can 'burn' calories.
It is a common collocation.
Word
معنی
Idiom meanings.
Subject-Verb-Object.
She ___ the toast every morning.
Subject-verb agreement.
Which is an idiom?
Idiomatic phrase.
To 'burn bridges' is a positive thing.
It means destroying relationships.
The intense ambition ___ within him.
Present tense.
What is the etymology of 'burn'?
It comes from Old English.
امتیاز: /10
Summary
The word 'burns' connects the physical power of fire with the intense heat of human emotion.
- Used to describe fire and heat.
- Can be literal or figurative.
- Commonly used in idioms.
- Simple present form is 'burns'.
Memory Palace
Imagine a candle in your kitchen.
Native Speakers
Use it for work exhaustion.
Cultural Insight
Burning bridges is a serious social taboo.
Grammar Shortcut
Always check for 's' in present tense.
