Lexical Definition

‎καίω‎ kaíō (kah'-yo) to kindle/burn ^G:V
apparently a primary verb

burn, light.

• to set on fire, i.e. kindle or (by implication) consume

Abbott-Smith

καίω, [in LXX for בּער, יקד, שׂרף, etc.;]
1. to kindle, light: c. acc., λύχνον, Mt 5:15; pass., to be lighted, to burn: ptcp., Lk 12:35, Re 4:5 8:10 19:20; πυρί, He 12:18, Re 8:8 21:8; metaph., Lk 24:32, Jo 5:35.
2. to burn, destroy by fire: pass., Jo 15:6, I Co 13:3.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

καίω,

Attic dialect κάω [ᾱ], imperfect ἔκαιον [Refs 8th c.BC+], Epic dialect καῖον [Refs 8th c.BC+]: future καύσω [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist 1 ἔκαυσα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Epic dialect ἔκηα (certain active and middle forms have κει- in codices of [Refs 8th c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. singular ἔκηε (ν) [Refs]; unaugm. κῆεν [Refs]; 3rd.pers. plural ἔκηαν (variant{ἔκειαν}) [Refs 8th c.BC+] codices; 1st pers. plural subjunctive κείομεν [Refs 8th c.BC+] (κατα-), [Refs]; infinitive κῆαι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; participle κείαντες [Refs], Attic dialect κέαντες [Refs 5th c.BC+]perfect κέκαυκα [Refs 5th c.BC+] —middle, aorist 1 ἐκαυσάμην [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Epic dialect κείαντο, κειάμενοι, [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—passive, future καυθήσομαι [NT+5th c.BC+]: aorist 1 ἐκαύθην [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Epic dialect and Ionic dialectaorist 2 ἐκάην [ᾰ] [Refs 8th c.BC+]; infinitive καήμεναι [Refs 8th c.BC+]: perfect κέκαυμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; infinitive κεκαῦσθαι [Refs 4th c.BC+]

__I kindle, πυρὰ πολλά [Refs 8th c.BC+] —middle, πῦρ κείαντο they lighted them a fire, [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—passive, to be lighted, burn, πυραὶ νεκύων καίοντο [Refs 8th c.BC+]; αἱ φλόγες αἱ καιόμεναι.. περὶ τὸν οὐρανόν the meteors which blaze, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of ore, to be smelted, [Refs]
__II set on fire, burn, μηρία, ὀστέα, [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—passive, νηυσὶν καιομένῃσιν [Refs]
__II.2 make hot, of the sun, ἀνθρώπους [Refs 5th c.BC+]; [Χείμαρρος] ἠελίῳ κεκαυμένος smelted, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II.3 of extreme cold, ἡ Χιὼν καίει τῶν κυνῶν τὰς ῥῖνας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κάειν λέγεται.. τὸ ψυχρόν, οὐχ ὡς τὸ θερμόν [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.4 passive, of fever-heat, τὰ ἐντὸς ἐκάετο [Refs 5th c.BC+]: metaphorically, of passion, especially of love, to be on fire, ἐν φρασὶ καιομένα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; καίεσθαί τινος (i.e. ἔρωτι) [Refs 4th c.BC+]; also καομένη Ἑλλάς Greece being in a fever of excitement, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.5 suffer from inflammation, ἐκαύθη ἔσω [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III burn and destroy (in war), τέμνειν καὶ κ., κ. καὶ πορθεῖν, waste with fire and sword, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__IV of surgeons, cauterize, ὤμους [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—in passive, [Refs] to use knife and cautery, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__V burn or bake pottery, κανθάρους uncertain in [Refs 5th c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: 1Cor.3.15}