Parched needing to swallow cold bitter (5)
I believe the answer is:
acrid
'bitter' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for acrid that I've seen before include "Strong and sharp" , "Having a bitter smell or taste" , "Sour, pungent" , "Unpleasantly strong-smelling" , "Having a bitter taste or small, like smoke" .)