The Clue
Use a branding iron (4 letter answer)
The Answer
SEAR
Tags
Notes
The answer SEAR is seen frequently, appearing about once every 90 puzzles.
Related Clues
Brand
Burn
Cauterize
Char
Dessicate
Scorch
Wither
Affix a brand to
Become dry
Blacken, as a steak
Blacken, in a way
Brand, in a way
Brown quickly
Burn on the outside
Burn the surface of
Catch on a firearm
Catch in a gunlock
Catch on a gunlock
Char, as a steak
Cook quickly
Flame-broil
Gun part
Gunlock catch
Gunlock part
Rifle part
Cook in a way, as tuna or beef tenderloin
Definition
SEAR as a verb:
1. (sear, scorch) = make very hot and dry; "The heat scorched the countryside"
2. (scorch, sear, singe) = become superficially burned; "my eyebrows singed when I bent over the flames"
3. (char, blacken, sear, scorch) = burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color; "The cook blackened the chicken breast"; "The fire charred the ceiling above the mantelpiece"; "the flames scorched the ceiling"
4. (parch, sear) = cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat; "The sun parched the earth"
SEAR as an adjective:
1. (dried-up, sere, sear, shriveled, shrivelled, withered) = (used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture; "dried-up grass"; "the desert was edged with sere vegetation"; "shriveled leaves on the unwatered seedlings"; "withered vines"