ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Quench

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /kwɛnt͡ʃ/ · Part of speech verb

Quick meaning: Quench is a verb meaning (transitive, originally figurative) To satisfy, especially a literal or figurative thirst.

Meaning

(transitive, originally figurative) To satisfy, especially a literal or figurative thirst.

(transitive) To extinguish or put out (as a fire or light).
(transitive, metallurgy) To cool rapidly by direct contact with liquid coolant, as a blacksmith quenching hot iron.
(transitive, chemistry) To terminate or greatly diminish (a chemical reaction) by destroying or deforming the remaining reagents.
(transitive, physics) To rapidly change the parameters of a physical system.
The act of quenching something; the fact of being quenched.
(transitive, physics) To rapidly terminate the operation of a superconducting electromagnet by causing part or all of the magnet's windings to enter the normal, resistive state.
(physics) The abnormal termination of operation of a superconducting magnet, occurring when part of the superconducting coil enters the normal (resistive) state.

The library quenched her thirst for knowledge.

The swordsmith quenched the sword in an oil bath so that it wouldn't shatter.

“From here you will see which one of us two stands up...when the fiery vomit is quenched.”

If someone is pinned against the MRI magnet by a ferromagnetic object, you may need to quench the magnet in order to free them.

Depending on context, synonyms include appease, slake, assuage, allay.

Related dictionary entries include slake, assuage, allay, extinguishment, extinguishing, extinction.

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