to burn or scorch (somebody or something) with a sudden application of intense heat
to burn, scorch, or injure (somebody or something) with a sudden application of intense heat
to brown the surface of (meat) by frying it quickly in hot fat
to mark (something) with a branding iron
to fix (something) in a person's mind as if with a branding iron
It was a sight which was seared on my memory for ever
to make (somebody) callous or insensitive
Their consciences had been seared by the violence of their environment
to make (a plant, etc) withered and dried up
[Old English sēarian to become withered, from sēar withered, sere1]