desiccate
pronunciation
How to pronounce desiccate in British English:
UK ['desɪˌkeɪt]
How to pronounce desiccate in American English:
US [ˈdɛsɪˌket]
-
- Verb:
- preserve by removing all water and liquids from
- remove water from
- lose water or moisture
-
- Adjective:
- lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless
Word Origin
- desiccate
- desiccate: see sack
- desiccate (v.)
- 1570s (past participle adjective desicatt is attested from early 15c.), from Latin desiccatus, past participle of desiccare "to make very dry" (see desiccation). Related: Desiccated; desiccating.
Example
- 1. In a week , your skin will desiccate and you will mummify .
- 2. Placing it in a bag with moisture-absorbing desiccate packets from vitamin bottles worked , but only for a few moments .
- 3. " There was only the sun-bruised and desiccate feeling in his mind " ( j.r. salamanca )
- 4. One approach might be to encourage uses of marshland that do not desiccate the peat-for example , growing moisture-loving rubber trees rather than oil palms , which need dry soils .