verb

slake

SLAYK/sleɪk/

To satisfy thirst or a strong desire.

A glass of cold water slakes my thirst after a run.

A thirsty walker quenches her thirst with a long drink of water, shown in a simple two-moment composition: flushed and parched before drinking, then visibly relaxed while drinking.

Etymology

slakeOld Englishbecome slack, relax an effort

Old English slacian meant to become slack or relax an effort. Through the sense “diminish in force or intensity,” slake came to describe satisfying thirst or desire by making its urgency subside.

More examples

She reads travel books to slake her desire for adventure.
We slaked our thirst at a drinking fountain.
No answer seems to slake his curiosity.

Forms

slake · slakes · slaked · slaking

Similar words

quench: More common for thirst; also means putting out fire.
satisfy: Broader and more everyday, covering needs, wants, and requirements.
satiate: Emphasizes satisfying an appetite or desire completely, sometimes excessively.