parched
B2Informal to neutral; common in both spoken and written descriptions.
Definition
Meaning
Extremely dry, especially due to heat or lack of water.
Very thirsty; intensely desiring or in need of something (often used metaphorically).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective. The verb form 'to parch' (to make or become extremely dry) is less common. Often implies a state of discomfort due to dryness or thirst.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. The verb 'parch' is slightly more common in American English for describing the drying effect of climate.
Connotations
Similar connotations of intense dryness or thirst in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common and understood in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] is/feels parched.[Subject] left [Object] parched.[Subject] parched in the heat.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Subject] is parched for a drink.”
- “[Subject] is parched for knowledge/information (metaphorical).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except potentially in industries like agriculture, e.g., 'The parched conditions affected the harvest.'
Academic
Used in geography, environmental science, and literature to describe landscapes or states.
Everyday
Very common to describe personal thirst or dry weather/conditions.
Technical
Used in meteorology, agriculture, and soil science to describe severe dryness.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The relentless sun will parch the cricket pitch.
- The wind parched the moors.
American English
- The summer heat parched the cornfields.
- Years of drought had parched the reservoir bed.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used. Potentially 'parchedly', but highly unnatural.)
American English
- (Rarely used. Potentially 'parchedly', but highly unnatural.)
adjective
British English
- After the hike, my throat was absolutely parched.
- They walked across the parched savannah.
American English
- I'm parched—could I have some iced tea?
- The parched lawn cracked underfoot.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I am parched. Can I have some water?
- The ground is very dry and parched.
- After running, his throat felt parched and sore.
- The plants died in the parched soil.
- The expedition struggled across the parched, cracked desert basin.
- She felt parched after the long flight and lecture.
- The journalist, parched for a genuine scoop, pursued the lead relentlessly.
- Centuries of irrigation had failed to reclaim the parched badlands.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a patch of earth that has been ARCHED by the sun into a dry, cracked shape – it's P-ARCHED.
Conceptual Metaphor
DRYNESS IS A STATE OF SUFFERING / THIRST IS A DESERT WITHIN.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'сушеный' (which implies 'dried' as in food).
- For feeling thirsty, 'испытывающий жажду' is correct, but 'parched' is stronger, closer to 'изнывающий от жажды' or 'пересохший'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'parched' for mildly dry objects (e.g., 'parched towel'). It implies extreme dryness.
- Confusing it with 'scorched', which implies burning rather than just dryness.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'parched' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can describe both. People feel parched (thirsty). Landscapes, soil, lips, etc., can be parched (extremely dry).
'Parched' is an intensifier. It means *extremely* dry, often to the point of discomfort or damage. A towel can be dry, but only earth in a drought is parched.
Yes. You can be 'parched for knowledge' or 'parched for news', meaning you have an intense desire or need for it.
The adjective 'parched' is far more common in everyday language than the verb 'to parch'.