sunburn UK /ˈsʌnˌbɜːn/US /ˈsʌnˌbɝn/noun 3verb 2forms 4 noun3 •A burn on the skin caused by excess exposure to the sun's rays. •A burn on the tissue of crop plants or their fruits (especially if they are rich in water like tomatoes, grapes, apples, gooseberries) caused by excess exposure to the sun's rays. •(rare) Suntan.The neutral colours showed off her café au lait sunburn. — 1956 verb2 •To receive a sunburn.I have brought Your grace a Salamanders skin, to keep you From sun-burning. — 1613 •To burn or tan (someone's skin) by the sun; to allow (a part of one's body) to become sunburnt.My Aunt charg’d me not to pull off my Glove for fear of Sun-burning my hand. — 1668 formssunburned · sunburnt · sunburning · sunburns