burning

Etymology

verb

1. present participle and gerund of burn

adj

1. So hot as to seem to burn (something).
   the burning sun
   The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom. Whirling wreaths and columns of burning wind, rushed around and over them. 1892, James Yoxall, chapter 5, in The Lonely Pyramid
2. Feeling very hot.
   burning skin
3. Feeling great passion.
   her burning heart
4. Consuming; intense; inflaming; exciting; vehement; powerful.
   burning zeal
5. Being keenly discussed.
   a burning question; a burning issue
6. On fire.
   The driver remained at his post, while telling fireman Jim Nightall to get down on the track and run back to uncouple the burning wagon from the rest. January 12 2022, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948

noun

1. The act by which something burns or is burned.
   It gives a fine delineation of the burnings of shame, disappointed ambition, and vengeance[…] 1828, Timothy Flint, The Western Monthly Review, volume 1, page 403
   The propriety of the dissolution, too, was speedily seen in the improved state of the public peace: for twelve years we hear little of Orange riots, and nothing of such burnings and wreckings as those of Maghera, Maghery, and Annahagh. 1850, The Edinburgh Review, Or Critical Journal, volume 91, page 93
2. A fire.
   The burnings continued all day.
3. (cryptocurrencies) purposefully remove certain number of coins in circulation, by sending it to a public address where the private keys cannot be obtained (called burn address, eater address or black hole), usually should be available on the blockchain for anyone to review such a transaction. It’s a one-way address with no ability to reverse the transaction or withdraw the coins. For all practical purposes, the asset no longer exists (it has been “burned”). The act of burning effectively removes tokens from the available supply.
4. A fiery pain.