quench

/kwɛntʃ/

/kwɛntʃ/

Other forms: quenched; quenching; quenches

Quench means to put out, put an end to, or satisfy. If you're stranded in the middle of the desert with nothing to drink, you're probably dreaming of a nice big glass of ice water to quench your thirst.

Quench originally meant “extinguish fires.” That meaning still works today, but we've expanded it to also apply to quenching the fiery thirst of a summer marathon runner or quenching the hot flames of passion. If you want to get deep about the word quench, consider what Voltaire said: “Superstition sets the whole world in flames; philosophy quenches them.”

Definitions of quench

1. verb

   satisfy (thirst)
   “The cold water quenched his thirst”

   synonyms: allay, assuage, slake

   type of:

   fill, fulfil, fulfill, meet, satisfy

   fill or meet a want or need
2. verb

   put out, as of fires, flames, or lights
   “quench the flames”

   synonyms: blow out, extinguish, snuff out

   types:

   stub

   extinguish by crushing

   douse, put out

   put out, as of a candle or a light

   black out

   obliterate or extinguish
3. verb

   reduce the degree of (luminescence or phosphorescence) in (excited molecules or a material) by adding a suitable substance
   type of:

   bring down, cut, cut back, cut down, reduce, trim, trim back, trim down

   cut down on; make a reduction in
4. verb

   cool (hot metal) by plunging into cold water or other liquid
   “quench steel”

   type of:

   chill, cool, cool down

   make cool or cooler
5. verb

   electronics: suppress (sparking) when the current is cut off in an inductive circuit, or suppress (an oscillation or discharge) in a component or device
   type of:

   bottle up, inhibit, suppress

   control and refrain from showing; of emotions, desires, impulses, or behavior
6. verb

   suppress or crush completely
   “quench a rebellion”

   synonyms: quell, squelch

   type of:

   conquer, curb, inhibit, stamp down, subdue, suppress

   to put down by force or authority