parch

UK: /ˈpɑː^rtʃ/ US: /pɑrtʃ/ ,(pärch)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

parch /pɑrtʃ/   v. 

[~ + object]
1. to make (something) too dry, as heat, sun, and wind do:
   The hot sun soon parched the desert.
2. to make thirsty:
   That hard work in the sun parched us.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

parch  (pärch), v.t. 

1. to make extremely, excessively, or completely dry, as heat, sun, and wind do.
2. to make dry, hot, or thirsty:
   Walking in the sun parched his throat.
3. to dry (peas, beans, grain, etc.) by exposure to heat without burning; to toast or roast slightly:
   A staple of the Indian diet was parched corn.
4. to dry or shrivel with cold.

v.i. 

5. to suffer from heat, thirst, or need of water.
6. to become parched;
   undergo drying by heat.
7. to dry (usually fol. by up).

• ?
• Middle English perchen 1350–1400

parch′a•ble, adj. 
parch•ed•ly  (pär′chid lē, pärcht′-), adv.  parch′ed•ness, n. 
parch′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. dry, shrivel, dessicate.

Antonyms

wet, moisten.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

parch / pɑːtʃ/ verb

1. to deprive or be deprived of water; dry up: the sun parches the fields
2. (tr; usually passive) to make very thirsty
3. (transitive) to roast (corn, etc) lightly

Etymology: 14th Century: of obscure origin