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

Meanwhile, heat-parched forests in Portugal and Spain went up in flames as wildfires raged.

From Science News For Students

Drought is parching farmlands and the rivers that feed them.

From Science News

It is nonsensical to parch one's throat with thirst when a kindly Mahomedan is ready to offer pure water to drink.

From Project Gutenberg

They first parch and then pound it between two stones until it is reduced to a fine meal.

From Project Gutenberg

What they gave me did rather parch and dry up my body, and made me probably worse than otherwise I might have been.

From Project Gutenberg

She persuaded the women of the land to parch with fire the seed of the corn that their husbands sowed in the earth.

From Project Gutenberg

You shall always blow in the hot, dry weather, and shall parch and shrivel all living things.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• evaporate
• scorch
• sear