to make completely wet; soak to give liquid medicine to (an animal), esp by force
the act or an instance of drenching a dose of liquid medicine given to an animal
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
drench /drɛntʃ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to wet thoroughly;
soak:I was drenched after the walk in the rain. - to cover or fill completely;
bathe:sunlight drenching the trees.
drench
(drench),USA pronunciation v.t.
n.
drench′er, n.
drench′ing•ly, adv.
- to wet thoroughly;
soak. - to saturate by immersion in a liquid;
steep. - to cover or fill completely;
bathe:trees drenched with sunlight. - [Vet. Med.]to administer a draft of medicine to (an animal), esp. by force:to drench a horse.
- [Archaic.]to cause to drink.
n.
- the act of drenching.
- something that drenches:a drench of rain.
- a preparation for drenching or steeping.
- Clothinga solution, esp. one of fermenting bran, for drenching hides or skins.
- a large drink or draft.
- a draft of medicine, esp. one administered to an animal by force.
- Botany[Hort.]a mixture of pesticide and water applied to the soil surrounding a plant.
- bef. 900; Middle English drenchen, Old English drencan, causative of drincan to drink; cognate with Dutch drenken, German tränken to water, give to drink
drench′ing•ly, adv.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See wet.
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