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Scorch vs Parch - What's the difference?

scorch | parch |

In transitive terms the difference between scorch and parch

is that scorch is to wither, parch or destroy something by heat or fire, especially to make land or buildings unusable to an enemy while parch is to dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat.

In intransitive terms the difference between scorch and parch

is that scorch is to move at high speed (so as to leave scorch marks on the ground while parch is to become superficially burnt; be become sunburned.

scorch

English

Noun

(es)
  • A slight or surface burn.
  • A discolouration caused by heat.
  • Brown discoloration on the leaves of plants caused by heat, lack of water or by fungi.

    • Derived terms

    * scorchy

    Verb

    (es)
  • To burn the surface of something so as to discolour it
  • To wither, parch or destroy something by heat or fire, especially to make land or buildings unusable to an enemy
  • * Prior
    • Lashed by mad rage, and scorched by brutal fires.
  • To become scorched or singed
  • To move at high speed (so as to leave scorch marks on the ground)
  • To burn; to destroy by, or as by, fire.
  • * Bible, Revelations xvi. 8
    • Power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
  • * Dryden
    • the fire that scorches me to death

    References

    parch

    English

    Verb

  • To burn the surface of, to scorch.
    • The sun today could parch cement.
  • To roast, as dry grain.
  • * Bible, Leviticus xxiii. 14
    • Ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn.
  • To dry to extremity; to shrivel with heat.
    • The patient's mouth is parched from fever.
  • (colloquial) To make thirsty.
    • We're parched , hon. Could you send up an ale from the cooler?
  • (archaic) To boil something slowly (Still used in Lancashire in , a type of mushy peas ).
  • To become superficially burnt; be become sunburned.
    • The locals watched, amused, as the tourists parched in the sun, having neglected to apply sunscreen or bring water.

    Noun

    (parches)
  • The condition of being parched.
  • * 1982 , (TC Boyle), Water Music , Penguin 2006, p. 64:
    • Yet here he is, not at the head, but somewhere toward the rear of the serpentine queue wending its way through all this parch […].
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