blacken

Verb

• burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color
  • The cook blackened the chicken breast
    
  • The fire charred the ceiling above the mantelpiece
    
  • the flames scorched the ceiling
    

• make or become black
  • The smoke blackened the ceiling
    
  • The ceiling blackened
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  char , sear , scorch , melanize , melanise , nigrify , black
• Antonyms: 
  whiten , white