drenching
drenching — verb
- drenchingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- drenchings3rd person singular
- drenchinging-ing form
- drenchingedpast simple
1. to cover a person or thing so fully with water or another liquid that every part
to cover a person or thing so fully with water or another liquid that every part of it becomes wet through and through
A sudden storm swept over the pitch and drenched the players within seconds.
weather event as subject: storm drenched [people]
Enzo forgot his umbrella and arrived at the office completely drenched.
The fire engine's hose drenched the entire front wall of the burning house.
Kwame tipped the bucket by accident and drenched his own shoes with soapy water.
We were drenched from head to toe after the boat ride through the rapids.
- soak
more general; can mean leaving something in liquid for a long time rather than pouring liquid over it
- douse
suggests a sudden, forceful action — throwing or pouring liquid onto something all at once
- saturate
more technical; emphasizes complete absorption, often used in scientific or industrial contexts
文法句型
drench + someone/something
be drenched + in/with + liquid
用法筆記
Frequently passive ('was drenched'). The liquid is often rain, sweat, or water rather than thick substances like mud or paint.
常見錯誤
2. to fill something so fully with a quality, feeling, or colour that it seems to s
to fill something so fully with a quality, feeling, or colour that it seems to shine or overflow with it
The old cathedral was drenched in golden light as the sun rose behind the altar.
drenched in + light: for atmospheric saturation
Ingrid's voice was drenched with sadness when she told us about her father.
The film is drenched in nostalgia, from the grainy home videos to the scratchy vinyl soundtrack.
Suki painted a portrait drenched in the vivid colours of a tropical sunset.
Noemi's letters were drenched with longing for the old courtyard in Seville where her family once gathered.
- empty
remove all quality or feeling from something
文法句型
drench + something + in/with + quality/feeling
用法筆記
Always figurative. The quality named after 'in' or 'with' is almost always something intangible — light, emotion, colour, or atmosphere. Distinguish from sense 1 (SOAK COMPLETELY), which is about physical liquid.
常見錯誤
drenching — noun
1. a liquid medicine or poisonous mixture given to an animal by making it swallow t
a liquid medicine or poisonous mixture given to an animal by making it swallow the dose
The farmer gave the sick horse a drench made from herbs and warm water.
give + animal + a drench: veterinary dosing
A drench of bitter medicine was poured slowly down the calf's throat.
Tariq measured out a drench of copper sulphate and carefully tipped it down the sick calf's throat.
The shepherd prepared a drench of garlic and vinegar for the ailing sheep.
- draught
a single dose of liquid medicine, used for both humans and animals but now dated
用法筆記
Archaic and almost entirely restricted to historical or veterinary contexts. A learner is unlikely to need this sense outside of reading older literature or farming texts.
2. a chemical liquid or substance applied to soil, plants, or materials to soak the
a chemical liquid or substance applied to soil, plants, or materials to soak them thoroughly for protection or treatment
The gardener applied a liquid drench around the base of each tomato plant.
apply + a drench + around: agricultural use
This antifungal drench stops root rot before it can spread through the greenhouse.
A single soil drench was enough to protect the timber foundations for a decade.
- soil soak
a more transparent modern term for the same agricultural technique
用法筆記
Technical term used in horticulture and pest control. Refers to a product applied as a soak rather than a spray.
3. enough liquid to soak something right through, used as a rough measure rather th
enough liquid to soak something right through, used as a rough measure rather than a precise one
One full watering can gave a drench to the three potted plants on the windowsill.
a drench + to: quantity sufficient to soak
A drench of cold water from the bucket woke Farid up faster than any alarm.
After the spill, a drench of coffee had soaked right through the white tablecloth.
The nurse used a drench of antiseptic to clean the deep cut before bandaging it.
- soaking
the more common everyday equivalent: 'give it a good soaking' rather than 'give it a drench'
用法筆記
Rare and somewhat old-fashioned. Most speakers would simply say 'enough to soak' or 'a good soaking' instead.