Quench

/kwɛntʃ/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to satisfy (thirst or desire) by drinking or causing to drink.

After the long hike, I drank water to quench my thirst.

to put out or extinguish (a fire or light).

The firefighters worked quickly to quench the flames that engulfed the building.

to suppress or extinguish (a feeling or a desire).

She tried to quench her excitement as she waited for the surprise party.

to cool (a hot object) suddenly by immersion in a liquid.

The blacksmith quenched the hot iron in water to harden it.

Middle English 'quenchen', Old English 'cwencan' meaning 'to extinguish, to quench'.

quench one's thirst:

To drink to satisfy thirst.

quench the flames:

To extinguish a fire.

quench a desire:

To satisfy a strong wish or urge.

To drink alcohol to excess.

After a long week, he just wanted to go out and quench his thirst at the bar.

To end an emotional or intense situation.

There's nothing like a good joke to quench the tension in the room.