parch

American  

[pahrch] / pɑrtʃ /

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.

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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 byup ).

parch British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• parchable adjective
• parchingly adverb
• unparching adjective

Etymology

Origin of parch

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

Example Sentences

She had been strolling down the Walk of Fame, parched after taking a three-hour guided tour of Los Angeles, when the bright red store colors caught her eye.

From Los Angeles Times

She shifted haphazardly back into a girl, her throat suddenly parched.

From Literature

Now those former hay fields sit dry, with weeds poking through the parched soil.

From Los Angeles Times

It had been about six decades since downtown was this parched.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s not just from the recent storms — early-season rains tend to soak into the parched ground — but also because California is building on three prior wet winters, state climatologist Michael Anderson said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• evaporate
• scorch
• sear