parch

Plural: parches

Verb

Verb Forms: parched, parching, parches

To make or become very dry due to heat or sun.
cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat
- "The sun parched the earth"
To burn the surface of, to scorch.
To roast, as dry grain.
To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat.
To make very thirsty.
To boil something slowly (Still used in Lancashire in parched peas, a type of mushy peas).
To become superficially burnt; to become sunburned.

Noun

The condition of being parched.

Examples

His opponent’s hopes would parch after seeing his triple word score on ’QUARTZ’.
The locals watched, amused, as the tourists parched in the sun, having neglected to apply sunscreen or bring water.
The patient’s mouth is parched from fever.
The sun today could parch cement.
We're parched, hon. Could you send up an ale from the cooler?

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English parchen, paarchen (“to parch; dry; roast”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant of Middle English perchen (“to roast”).

Synonyms

sear

Scrabble Score: 12

parch: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
parch: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
parch: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

parch: valid Words With Friends Word