Singe Meaning
/sɪnd͡ʒ/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo burn slightly.
verbTo remove the nap of (cloth), by passing it rapidly over a red-hot bar, or over a flame, preliminary to dyeing it.
Sentence Examples
He tried to singe the loose threads on the end of the rope.
To singe means to burn the surface of a thing very slightly.
Be careful not to singe your eyebrows with the lighter.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She will ____ her hair if she gets too close to the flame.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Be careful not to ____ your eyelashes when you light the birthday candles.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English sengen, from Old English senġan, sænċġan (“to singe, burn slightly, scorch, afflict”), from Proto-West Germanic *sangijan (“to burn, torch”), from Proto-Indo-European *senk- (“to burn”). Cognate with West Frisian singe, sinzje (“to singe”), Saterland Frisian soange (“to singe”), Dutch zengen (“to singe, scorch”), German Low German sengen (“to singe”), German sengen (“to singe, scorch”), Icelandic sangur (“singed, burnt, scorched”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"made combustible by Flame They treat of, we have pretty Game, For they their own Tail Singe, to save Us"
— 1702, Sir Roger L’Estrange, “The First Viſion of the Algouazil (or Catchpole) Poſſest”, in The Viſions of Dom Franciſco de Quevedo-Villegas'^([21]):
"Then ſange Iudith this ſonge vnto the LORDE: Begynne vnto the LORDE vpon the tabrettes, ſinge vnto the LORDE vpon the cymbals."
— 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Judith xvj:[1–2], folio xxix, verso:
"Lo I the man, whoſe Muſe whilome did maske, / As time her taught in lowly Sheapards weeds, / Am now enforſt a far unfitter taske, / For trumpets ſterne to change mine oaten reeds, / And ſinge of Knights and Ladies gentle deeds[…]"
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 1:
"[H]ere’s a couple of Syrenicall raſcals ſhall inchaunt yee: What ſhall they ſinge my good Lorde?"
— c. 1603 (date written), Iohn Marston, The Malcontent, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for William Aspley, […], published 1604, →OCLC, Act III, scene iv:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She will ____ her hair if she gets too close to the flame.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Be careful not to ____ your eyelashes when you light the birthday candles.