burn

1. To cause a lesion by heat or a similar lesion by some other agent. 2. A sensation of pain caused by excessive heat, or similar pain from any cause. 3. A lesion caused by heat or any cauterizing agent, including friction, caustic agents, electricity, or electromagnetic energy; types of burns resulting from different agents are relatively specific and diagnostic. The division of burns into three degrees (first degree, second degree, and third degree) reflects the severity of skin damage (erythema, blisters, charring, respectively). [A.S. baernan]

- brush b. a b. caused by friction of a rapidly moving object against the skin or ground into the skin.

- chemical b. a b. due to a caustic chemical.

- first-degree b. a b. involving only the epidermis and causing erythema and edema without vesiculation. SYN: superficial b..

- flash b. a b. due to very brief exposure to intense radiant heat; the typical b. produced by atomic explosion.

- full-thickness b. SYN: third-degree b..

- mat b. brush b..

- partial-thickness b. SYN: second-degree b..

- radiation b. a b. caused by exposure to radium, x-rays, atomic energy in any form, ultraviolet rays, etc.

- rope b. brush b..

- second-degree b. a b. involving the epidermis and dermis and usually forming blisters that may be superficial, or by deep dermal necrosis, followed by epithelial regeneration extending from the skin appendages. SYN: partial-thickness b..

- superficial b. SYN: first-degree b..

- thermal b. a b. caused by heat.

- third-degree b. a b. involving destruction of the entire skin; deep third-degree burns extend into subcutaneous fat, muscle, or bone and often cause much scarring. SYN: full-thickness b..

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burn 'bərn vb, burned 'bərnd, 'bərnt or burnt 'bərnt; burn·ing vi

1) to produce or undergo discomfort or pain <iodine \burns so> <ears \burning from the cold>

2) to receive sunburn <she \burns easily> vt to injure or damage by exposure to fire, heat, or radiation <\burned his hand>

burn n

1) bodily injury resulting from exposure to heat, caustics, electricity, or some radiations, marked by varying degrees of skin destruction and hyperemia often with the formation of watery blisters and in severe cases by charring of the tissues, and classified according to the extent and degree of the injury see FIRST-DEGREE BURN, SECOND-DEGREE BURN, THIRD-DEGREE BURN

2) an abrasion having the appearance of a burn <friction \burns> <cold \burn>

3) a burning sensation <the \burn of iodine applied to a cut>

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n.

tissue damage caused by such agents as heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight, or nuclear radiation. A first-degree burn affects only the outer layer (epidermis) of the skin. In a second-degree burn both the epidermis and the underlying dermis are damaged. A third-degree burn involves damage or destruction of the skin to its full depth and damage to the tissues beneath. Burns cause swelling and blistering, due to loss of plasma from damaged blood vessels. In serious burns, affecting 15% or more of the body surface in adults (10% or more in children), this loss of plasma results in severe shock and requires immediate transfusion of blood or saline solution. Burns may also lead to bacterial infection, which can be prevented by administration of antibiotics. Third-degree burns may require skin grafting.

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(burn) injury to tissues caused by contact with dry heat (fire), moist heat (steam or hot liquid), chemicals (e.g., corrosive substances), electricity (current or lightning), friction, or radiant and electromagnetic energy. Burns are classified by the depth of injury as first-, second-, third-, or fourth-degree.

Burns. (A), Superficial second-degree; (B), deep second-degree; (C), third-degree.