drench

²drench

verb

Definition of DRENCH

transitive verb

1

a archaic : to force to drink b : to administer a drench to (an animal)

2

: to wet thoroughly (as by soaking or immersing in liquid)

3

: to soak or cover thoroughly with liquid that falls or is precipitated

4

: to fill or cover completely as if by soaking or precipitation <was drenched in furs and diamonds — Richard Brautigan>

— drench·er noun

Examples of DRENCH

1. <we were drenched by the sudden rainstorm>
2. <when using the carpet shampooer, wet but do not drench the carpet>

Origin of DRENCH

Middle English, from Old English drencan; akin to Old English drincan to drink

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to DRENCH

Synonyms: bathe, bedraggle, douse (also dowse), wet, drown, soak, sodden, sop, souse, wash, water, waterlog, water-soak, wet down

Antonyms: dehydrate, desiccate, dry, parch, scorch, sear

Related Words: asperse, bedew, damp, dampen, drizzle, humidify, hydrate, mist, moisten, moisturize, shower, sprinkle; deluge, flood, hose (down), inundate, overflow; submerge, swamp; splash; impregnate, saturate, steep; flush, irrigate, lave, rinse, slosh, sluice; dip, duck, dunk; rehydrate, rewash, rewet

Near Antonyms: dewater, evaporate, freeze-dry; drip-dry, wring; dehumidify

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at soak