desiccant

[des-i-kuhnt]

adjective

1. desiccating or drying, as a medicine.

noun

1. a desiccant substance or agent.

desiccant

/ ˈdɛsɪkənt /

adjective

1. desiccating or drying

noun

1. a substance, such as calcium oxide, that absorbs water and is used to remove moisture; a drying agent

Word History and Origins

Origin of desiccant¹

1670–80; < Latin dēsiccant-, stem of dēsiccāns, present participle of dēsiccāre to dry up. See desiccate, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of desiccant¹

C17: from Latin dēsiccāns drying up; see _desiccate

Example Sentences

Water-adsorption polymers have been playing a key part in atmospheric water harvesting and desiccant air conditioning, but desorption so that the polymers can be efficiently reused has been an issue.

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Their system converts air to water using atmospheric water generators that contain a liquid desiccant, which absorbs moisture from the air.

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Separate from the recalled Takata inflators are about 30 million that contain a moisture-absorbing chemical called a desiccant that is meant to keep the ammonium nitrate dry and stable.

Read more on Seattle Times

“These restrictions include a prohibition of pre-harvest use as a desiccant and the need for certain measures to protect non-target organisms,” it said in a statement.

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The liquid salt desiccant then runs through a heat pump system to be recharged.

Read more on Scientific American

Related Words

• arid 
• bare 
• barren 
• dehydrated www.thesaurus.com
• dusty 
• parched 
• stale 
• torrid