English Explanatory Dictionary

desiccate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To remove moisture from; to dry; (sometimes) to dry to an extreme degree.
  2. To preserve by drying.
  3. To become dry; to dry up.
adj
  1. Having had moisture removed; dehydrated, desiccated.
noun
  1. A substance which has been desiccated, that is, had its moisture removed.

Pronunciation

/ˈdɛsɪkeɪt/ /dɪˈsɪkeɪt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-desiccate.wav /ˈdɛsɪkət/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-desiccate2.wav

Word forms

desiccate desiccates desiccating desiccated more desiccate most desiccate

Etymology

From Latin dēsiccō (“to dry completely, dry up”) + -ate (verb-forming suffix), from dē- (“completely, to exhaustion”, a prefix) + siccō (“to dry; to drain, exhaust”), from siccus (“dry”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix). By surface analysis, de- + siccate.

Synonyms

dehydrate dry out parch exsiccate exiccate dried

Antonyms

hydrate moisten moisturize wet

Related words

desiccant exiccate exiccation exsiccant exsiccate exsiccation exsiccative exsiccator

Derived words

desiccated desiccated coconut desiccatedly desiccating desiccation desiccative desiccator desiccatory
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