parch

Verb
Synonyms: sear

WordNet 3.0

Verb (1)

  1. cause to wither or parch from exposure to heat“The sun parched the earth”Synonyms: sear
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Parch \Parch\, v. i. To become scorched or superficially burnt; to be very dry. "Parch in Afric sun." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Parch \Parch\ (p[aum]rch), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parched; p. pr. & vb. n. Parching.] [OE. perchen to pierce, hence used of a piercing heat or cold, OF. perchier, another form of percier, F. percer. See Pierce.]

1.To burn the surface of; to scorch; to roast over the fire, as dry grain; as, to parch the skin; to parch corn. [1913 Webster]

Ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn.— Lev. xxiii. 14.[1913 Webster]

2.To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat; as, the mouth is parched from fever. [1913 Webster]

The ground below is parched.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]
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