desiccate - Dictionary definition and pronunciation - Yahoo! Education

Definition of desiccate

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des·ic·cate  audio  (ds-kt) KEY 

VERB:
des·ic·cat·ed, des·ic·cat·ing, des·ic·cates
VERB:
tr.
  1. To dry out thoroughly.
  2. To preserve (foods) by removing the moisture. See Synonyms at dry.
  3. To make dry, dull, or lifeless.
VERB:
intr.
To become dry; dry out.
ADJECTIVE:
(also -kt)
Lacking spirit or animation; arid: "There was only the sun-bruised and desiccate feeling in his mind" (J.R. Salamanca).
ETYMOLOGY:
Latin dsiccre, dsicct- : d-, de- + siccre, to dry up (from siccus, dry)

OTHER FORMS:
desic·cation(Noun), desic·cative(Adjective), desic·cator(Noun)


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