drench

[drench]

verb (used with object)

1. to wet thoroughly; soak.

2. to saturate by immersion in a liquid; steep.

3. to cover or fill completely; bathe.

   trees drenched with sunlight.

4. Veterinary Medicine.,  to administer a draft of medicine to (an animal), especially by force.

   to drench a horse.

5. Archaic.,  to cause to drink.

noun

1. the act of drenching.

2. something that drenches.

   a drench of rain.

3. a preparation for drenching or steeping.

4. a solution, especially one of fermenting bran, for drenching hides or skins.

5. a large drink or draft.

6. a draft of medicine, especially one administered to an animal by force.

7. Horticulture.,  a mixture of pesticide and water applied to the soil surrounding a plant.

drench

/ drɛntʃ /

verb

1. to make completely wet; soak

2. to give liquid medicine to (an animal), esp by force

noun

1. the act or an instance of drenching

2. a dose of liquid medicine given to an animal

Other Word Forms

• drenching noun
• drencher noun
• drenchingly adverb
• undrenched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of drench¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English drenchen, Old English drencan, causative of drincan “to drink” ( drink ); cognate with Dutch drenken, German tränken “to water, give to drink”

Word History and Origins

Origin of drench¹

Old English drencan to cause to drink; related to Old High German trenken

Synonym Study

See wet.

Example Sentences

Flooding struck the popular holiday island of Ibiza on Saturday for the second time in two weeks as the storm moved east and north into the Mediterranean after drenching southeastern Spain.

Read more on Barron's

There was a short break between the second and third sets to allow the players to change their shirts, which were drenched in sweat due to the hot and humid conditions.

Read more on BBC

Six years ago, before he was seen as a budding star at USC, Jahkeem Stewart stood at the base of that levee in Algiers on a muggy day, drenched in sweat.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Even when we think things are going exceptionally well and our spirits are drenched in warm summer sunlight, here comes autumn to remind us that there are some endings we have no control over.

Read more on Salon

Now, the bookshop is drenched in mud and they are taking stock of the damage.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• deluge 
• douse 
• drown 
• immerse 
• impregnate 
• inundate 
• saturate 
• soak 
• steep 
• submerge 

When To Use

What does drench mean?

To drench is to soak with a liquid, as in The rain drenched me from head to foot. Often, drench is used in reference to rain, bodies of water, or a spill of some kind.To drench is also to saturate with liquid. When you saturate, or drench, a sponge with water, for example, you add as much water as the sponge can hold.Figuratively, to drench is also to cover or fill completely, such as drenching a plant with sunlight by placing the plant in a sunny window. You might also be drenched in a strong emotion, such as joy or sadness. In other words, you’re full of that joy or sadness.A drench is a large amount of liquid that is poured or dropped onto something, such as rain during a powerful rain storm.Drench is also the specific act of drenching something.Example: The rain is going to absolutely drench the clothes hanging on the laundry line.