Scorch (verb)

1. To burn the surface of something slightly, usually with a dry heat.
2. To cause damage or destruction by fire or heat.
3. To dry or wither something with heat.

Origin:

Middle english scorchen, from old english scorcan, from proto-germanic *skurkijaną (compare low german schörken, dutch schroeien, german schrecken), from proto-germanic *skurkaz ("scorched"), from proto-indo-european *(s)ker- ("to burn, scorch").

Examples:

1. The sun scorched the grass.
2. She scorched her hand on the stove.
3. The fire scorched the building.
4. The iron scorched the shirt.
5. The heat scorched the crops.