dehydrate

[ dee-hahy-dreyt ]

verb (used with object)

, de·hy·drat·ed, de·hy·drat·ing.

1. to deprive (a chemical compound) of water or the elements of water.
2. to free (fruit, vegetables, etc.) from moisture for preservation; dry.
3. to remove water from (the body or a tissue).
4. to deprive of spirit, force, or meaning; render less interesting or effectual.

verb (used without object)

, de·hy·drat·ed, de·hy·drat·ing.

1. to lose water or moisture:

   Milk dehydrates easily.

dehydrate

/ diːˈhaɪdreɪt; ˌdiːhaɪˈdreɪt /

verb

1. to lose or cause to lose water; make or become anhydrous
2. to lose or cause to lose hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms in the proportions in which they occur in water, as in a chemical reaction
3. to lose or deprive of water, as the body or tissues

Derived Forms

• ˌdehyˈdration, noun
• deˈhydrator, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dehydrate¹

First recorded in 1850–55; de- + hydrate

Synonym Study

See evaporate.

Example Sentences

Drop absolute alcohol on to the section from a drop bottle, to dehydrate it.

From Project Gutenberg

Decolourise and dehydrate rapidly with absolute alcohol until there remains only a very faint bluish tint.

From Project Gutenberg

Flood with several changes of absolute alcohol to dehydrate the section.

From Project Gutenberg

It is employed to dehydrate certain oils with which the pork-packer adulterates lard.

From Project Gutenberg

Captain, you don't dehydrate beans and pop-corn—they come that way naturally.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dry out