burn off

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To dissipate as the result of heat.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Near-synonyms: burn away, burn up

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To cause to dissipate by applying heat.

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To dispose of (unusable explosive natural gas from an oil well) by burning it as it emerges from the well.

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “burn off” mean?

To dissipate as the result of heat.

Is “burn off” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.