underburn

English

Etymology

From Middle English underbrennen (“to set on fire, burn up”), equivalent to under- +‎ burn.

Verb

underburn (third-person singular simple present underburns, present participle underburning, simple past and past participle underburned or underburnt)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To burn up.
2. (transitive) To burn too little.

Noun

underburn (plural underburns)

1. The deliberate burning of surface fuel so as to leave the tree canopy intact.