broiling
Meaning
(of weather) extremely hot
the act of cooking something by direct exposure to radiant heat
Structure
Usage
We sought refuge indoors from the broiling midday sun.
The chef prefers broiling the fish to give it a crisp skin.
It was a broiling summer day, with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees.
Etymology
The word 'broiling' originates from the Old French verb 'bruler', meaning 'to burn', which itself has Germanic roots. The '-ing' suffix is a native English grammatical element used to create adjectives from verbs, describing a state or action. The culinary sense of 'broiling'—cooking by direct, intense heat—developed from the core meaning of burning or scorching. When applied to weather, 'broiling' is a metaphorical extension, vividly describing heat so intense it feels as if one is being cooked or scorched by the sun.
Analysis
'broil' is from Old French 'bruler' (to burn), of Germanic origin. '-ing' is an Old English suffix used to form present participles and gerunds.