dehydrate

[dee-hahy-dreyt]

verb (used with object)

dehydrated, dehydrating 

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)

dehydrated, dehydrating 

1. to lose water or moisture.

   Milk dehydrates easily.

dehydrate

/ ˌdiːhaɪˈdreɪt, diːˈhaɪdreɪt /

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

Other Word Forms

• dehydrator noun
• dehydration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dehydrate¹

First recorded in 1850–55; de- + hydrate

Synonym Study

See evaporate.

Example Sentences

I’ve treated elderly patients who had been found wandering the streets, lying in their own excrement or simply dehydrated because of gaps in care.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Prior to the weigh-in, which takes place a day before fight night, they may dehydrate to lose the final bit of weight.

Read more on BBC

He sweated profusely and looked as if he might be dehydrated.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Once matured, they were dehydrated to preserve them and then attached to custom electronic circuits.

Read more on Science Daily

Except, in recent months images have emerged showing weak, dehydrated children - some as young as seven - hooked up to intravenous drips.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• dry out