arid

American  

[ar-id] / ˈær ɪd /

adjective

1. being without moisture; extremely dry; parched.

   arid land;

   an arid climate.

2. barren or unproductive because of lack of moisture.

   arid farmland.

3. lacking interest or imaginativeness; sterile.

   an arid treatment of an exciting topic.

   Synonyms:

   pedantic, jejune, uninspiring, uninspired, vapid, dreary, tedious, dull

   Antonyms:

   imaginative, spirited, exciting, interesting, lively

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arid British  

/ ˈærɪd, əˈrɪdɪtɪ /

adjective

1. having little or no rain; dry; parched with heat

2. devoid of interest

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arid Scientific  

/ ăr′ĭd /

1. Very dry, especially having less precipitation than is needed to support most trees or woody plants. Deserts have arid climates.

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Related Words

See dry.

Other Word Forms

• aridity noun
• aridly adverb
• aridness noun
• hyperarid adjective

Etymology

Origin of arid

First recorded in 1645–55; from French or directly from Latin āridus, equivalent to ār(ēre) “to be dry” + -idus adjective suffix; -id ⁴; ash ¹

Example Sentences

Deep fear has long pervaded the arid savannah plains and highlands of north-western Nigeria - even before the US air strikes on the Islamist militants who have made this area their base on Christmas night.

From BBC

Iran, a largely arid country, has for years suffered chronic dry spells and heat waves, which are expected to worsen with climate change.

From Barron's

He has turned the tiny, arid former French colony of around one million people into a reliable international military and maritime hub for both the United States and China.

From Barron's

Like Iran, Israel had an arid climate and a fast-growing population.

From The Wall Street Journal

Iran, a largely arid country, has for years suffered chronic dry spells and heat waves expected to worsen with climate change.

From Barron's

Related Words

• barren
• bone-dry
• desert
• dusty
• parched