parching

2 definitions found

parching - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.
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              Ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn. --Lev.
                                                    xxiii. 14.
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     2. To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat; as, the mouth
        is parched from fever.
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              The ground below is parched.          --Dryden.
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  parching \parch"ing\ (p[aum]rch"[i^]ng), a.
     Scorching; burning; drying. "Summer's parching heat." --Shak.
     -- Parch"ing*ly, adv.
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