parch

[ pahrch ]

verb (used with object)

1. to make extremely, excessively, or completely dry, as heat, sun, and wind do.

   Synonyms: shrivel, dry

2. to make dry, hot, or thirsty:

   Walking in the sun parched his throat.

3. to dry (peas, beans, grain, etc.) by exposure to heat without burning; to toast or roast slightly:

   A staple of the Indian diet was parched corn.

4. to dry or shrivel with cold.

verb (used without object)

1. to suffer from heat, thirst, or need of water.
2. to become parched; undergo drying by heat.
3. to dry (usually followed by up ).

parch

/ pɑːtʃ /

verb

1. to deprive or be deprived of water; dry up

   the sun parches the fields

2. tr; usually passive to make very thirsty

   I was parched after the run

3. tr to roast (corn, etc) lightly

Other Words From

• parch·a·ble adjective
• parch·ing·ly adverb
• un·parch·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parch¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English perchen; further origin unknown

Word History and Origins

Origin of parch¹

C14: of obscure origin

Example Sentences

The rivers, in parts, are now completely dry and resemble a parched desert.

From BBC

A sudden shutoff of water supplies has dried up the Kern River in Bakersfield, leaving thousands of dead fish on the parched riverbed.

From Los Angeles Times

The fire raced up into the mountains and was fueled by brush that had been fed by two consecutive wet winters, and then parched by the Earth’s hottest summer on record.

From Los Angeles Times

Even as a moist blanket of air in the marine layer thickens, rising to 4,500 feet by Sunday, conditions above that remain parched.

From Los Angeles Times

Oregon, Idaho and Washington are also dealing with hundreds of fires resulting from multiple weeks of dry lightning strikes on parched vegetation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• evaporate
• scorch
• sear