parch

About 0.05 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To burn the surface of, to scorch.

   The sun today could parch cement.

2. verb To roast, as dry grain.
3. verb To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat.

   The patient’s mouth is parched from fever.

4. verb To be very thirsty.

   We're parched, hon. Could you send up an ale from the cooler?

5. verb To boil something slowly (Still used in Lancashire in parched peas, a type of mushy peas).
6. verb To become superficially burnt; to become sunburned.

   The locals watched, amused, as the tourists parched in the sun, having neglected to apply sunscreen or bring water.

7. noun The condition of being parched.

Similar words

scorch sear bescorch scrimple burn to a crisp burn cremate forburn burn up forscald

Often followed by

the and it in up corn marks of his

Word family

parched parches parching