burning at the stake vs burning

burning at the stake and burning both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
burning at the stake	Yes	No	No	No
burning	Yes	Yes	No	No

As nouns, burning at the stake and burning are synonyms defined as:

burning at the stake (noun)	burning (noun)
execution by fire	the act of burning something
	execution by electricity
	execution by fire
	a form of torture in which cigarettes or cigars or other hot implements are used to burn the victim's skin
	a process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light
	pain that feels hot as if it were on fire

burning at the stake (adjective)	burning (adjective)
	of immediate import