1 parch | Definition of parch

parch

verb
\ ˈpärch How to pronounce parch (audio) \
parched; parching; parches

Definition of parch

transitive verb

1 : to toast under dry heat
2 : to shrivel with heat
3 : to dry or shrivel with cold

intransitive verb

: to become dry or scorched

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Synonyms & Antonyms for parch

Synonyms

dehydrate, desiccate, dry, scorch, sear

Antonyms

hydrate, wash, water, wet

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Examples of parch in a Sentence

The hot desert sun had parched the land. the heat has really parched my throat

Recent Examples on the Web

The frequency of a four-year-long drought, one like the California drought that parched the state a few years ago, increased from under about 0.25 percent of years in the past to about 25 percent in the future. Alejandra Borunda, National Geographic, "'Snow droughts' are coming for the American West," 14 Aug. 2019 The potential for conflict may increase as climate change parches the region and Egypt’s population increases: from 100m today to an estimated 130m by 2030. The Economist, "Pyramid scheme," 6 July 2019 From the article: The tradition of Youkilis men providing alcohol to America’s parched goes back almost a century. Kyle Brown, Cincinnati.com, "Sycamore, UC great Kevin Youkilis featured in Sports Illustrated’s 'Where Are They Now?'," 25 June 2019 The tradition of Youkilis men providing alcohol to America’s parched goes back almost a century. Mark Bechtel, SI.com, "Former Red Sox Great Kevin Youkilis Crafting a New Path With California Brewery," 25 June 2019 All this effervescence was refreshing for food retailers who are generally parched for growth. Aaron Back, WSJ, "The Year of Fancy Water and Kombucha," 31 Dec. 2018 US Forest Service The die-off, meanwhile, that’s created so much fuel is a symptom of the years-long drought that has parched the Western United States. Umair Irfan, Vox, "California has 129 million dead trees. That’s a huge wildfire risk.," 1 Sep. 2018 To make your shower even more moisturizing, swap parching sudsy for a cleansing oil with fatty acid–rich soybean oil to fortify and protect skin's moisture barrier. Mary Clarke And Blake Bakkila, Good Housekeeping, "6 Simple Ways to Battle Dry Winter Skin," 11 Nov. 2015 The Iberian peninsula endured some record heat last weekend, with temperatures exceeding 45 C (113 F), which parched large areas. Barry Hatton, Fox News, "Wildfires torment Portugal, Spain as France feels the heat," 7 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'parch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of parch

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for parch

Middle English

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More Definitions for parch

parch

verb

English Language Learners Definition of parch

formal : to make (something) very dry

parch

verb
\ ˈpärch How to pronounce parch (audio) \
parched; parching

Kids Definition of parch

: to dry or make dry from heat and lack of moisture The heat and drought of dog days had parched the earth …— William H. Armstrong, Sounder

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More from Merriam-Webster on parch

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with parch

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for parch

Spanish Central: Translation of parch

Nglish: Translation of parch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of parch for Arabic Speakers