Which word means to burn something?

The term that means to burn something is "scorch." This word specifically refers to the action of burning a surface slightly, often resulting in a change of color or a damaged texture. Scorching can apply to both organic materials, like food or paper, and inanimate objects, such as fabric or wood, indicating a partial burn that does not completely consume the material.

In contrast, the other words do not relate to the act of burning. "Slur" typically refers to a negative or derogatory remark, "stipulate" is to specify as a condition or requirement in an agreement, and "shard" denotes a piece of broken material, such as glass or pottery. Therefore, "scorch" is the only word that accurately describes burning something.