Burning

[1] The violent combination of oxygen with any substance to produce heat.
[2] The action of consuming something to produce heat, i.e., combustion.
[3] The heating of an alloy to too high a temperature, causing local fusion or excessive penetration of oxide, and rendering the alloy weak and brittle.
See also lead burning.
[3] The action of erosion or eating away. Electrical contacts are burning when they wear away; exhaust valves are burning when they pit and don't close properly.
[4] flame cutting.
See also afterburning, lead burning