perched

American  

[purcht] / pɜrtʃt /

adjective

1. (of a bird) resting on a perch, such as a branch, telephone wire, or fence, or a rod specially designed for the purpose.

   While hiking I caught sight of a perched owl near the trail.

2. settled or resting in a relatively high position, like a bird on a perch.

   The tour will stop for lunch in a perched village offering a splendid view of the entire French Riviera coastline.

3. Geology. (of a boulder or block) left on the top of a hill, ridge, etc., by ice that melted after carrying it there.

   As you continue hiking southeast, look out for the perched boulder overlooking a pond.

4. Geology.

   1. (of a lake) having a surface level at an unusually high elevation, well above that of aquifers and other bodies of water in the area, because it has formed on a dense, hardened layer of sand mixed with organic matter that traps water on top of it.

      Half of all the world’s known perched lakes are found on Australia’s Fraser Island.

   2. (of an aquifer) occurring above the regional water table, having been formed by an accumulation of groundwater that cannot permeate the underlying layer of clay or other dense soil.

      Perched aquifers are sometimes good water sources, but they tend to be relatively small and easily depleted with overpumping.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of perch.

Other Word Forms

• unperched
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of perched

First recorded in 1815–25; perch ¹ ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; perch ¹ ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

I often stood crooked or perched on things to avoid sticking out.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

The property—which is registered to a trust in Harvey’s name—is described in its listing as a “European-inspired architectural masterpiece” that is perched atop “a private, elevated setting overlooking the Chattahoochee River.”

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Just like the tourists perched above, visitors in the boats below try to get the ultimate snap: the vertical landscape looming over the Yangtze River in shades of electric blue, magenta and red.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

The main space is filled with musical instruments, a Buddha statue, a Yoda doll, a skull, and glam platform boots perched atop a piano.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Jason stood in the entrance, a rottie perched on his shoulder.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Related Words

• alight
• squat
• touch down