verb / noun
drench
DRENCH/drentʃ/
A thorough soaking with liquid.
The burst hose drenches the gardener.
Etymology
Old English drencan was the causative partner of drink: it meant to make someone drink, but also to soak or submerge. The modern sense retains this thorough exposure to liquid.
In context
Their brief is to drench a strip of forest ahead of the advancing fire front
More examples
- A sudden shower gave them a thorough drench.
- Rain drenched the picnic blanket.
- She was drenched from head to foot.
Forms
drench · drenches · drenched · drenching
Similar words
- soak
- Soak is general; drench emphasizes complete wetting, often suddenly.
- dampen
- Dampen makes slightly wet; drench makes thoroughly wet.