desiccate

[ des-i-keyt ]

/ ˈdɛs ɪˌkeɪt /

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See synonyms for: desiccate / desiccated on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), des·ic·cat·ed, des·ic·cat·ing.

to dry thoroughly; dry up.

to preserve (food) by removing moisture; dehydrate.

verb (used without object), des·ic·cat·ed, des·ic·cat·ing.

to become thoroughly dried or dried up.

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Origin of desiccate

1565–75; <Latin dēsiccātus dried up, past participle of dēsiccāre, equivalent to dē-de- + siccāre, derivative of siccus dry; see -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM desiccate

des·ic·ca·tion, noundes·ic·ca·tive, adjective

Words nearby desiccate

desexualize, deshabille, desi, De Sica, desiccant, desiccate, desiccated, desiccator, desiderata, desiderate, desiderative

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use desiccate in a sentence

To see how long microbes might survive such an onslaught on Mars, researchers desiccated five species of bacteria and one type of yeast, stored them at −80° Celsius and then irradiated them.
Ancient bacteria could persist beneath Mars’ surface|Sid Perkins|November 2, 2022|Science News
Salt Lake City residents are concerned that potentially toxic desiccated sediments will worsen their already worrisome smog.
Dust clouds are killing people out West—and the dangers could spread|Virginia Gewin|February 24, 2022|Popular-Science
California and the West Coast remain entrenched in a crippling drought that’s left some reservoirs dry and vegetation desiccated, but the atmosphere will deliver another welcome dose of water this week.
Drought-denting rains, feet of mountain snow to plaster West Coast|Matthew Cappucci|December 20, 2021|Washington Post
Over time, the liner paper or waxed paper will absorb moisture from the flower, gradually desiccating it.
How to preserve flowers in 4 easy ways|empire|August 20, 2021|Popular-Science

The combination of high heat and low humidity will further desiccate the landscape, sucking moisture out of the ground and making it ripe to rapidly burn.
Yet another major heat wave is set to roast the western U.S. and Canada by the weekend|Matthew Cappucci|July 14, 2021|Washington Post
And aint I the owner of that news, and should I not desiccate it if I can?
Molly Brown's Post-Graduate Days|Nell Speed
To desiccate him in my laboratory with the quasi certainty of resuscitating him after the restoration of peace.
The Man With The Broken Ear|Edmond About
Another effect of the over heating of the stove is to desiccate or parch the air, and to render it irritating when breathed.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume II|Arnold Cooley
The effect of that would be to desiccate the human species in human conceit.
Marse Henry (Vol. 2)|Henry Watterson

British Dictionary definitions for desiccate

desiccate

/ (ˈdɛsɪˌkeɪt) /

verb

(tr) to remove most of the water from (a substance or material); dehydrate

(tr) to preserve (food) by removing moisture; dry

(intr) to become dried up

Derived forms of desiccate

desiccation, noundesiccative, adjective

Word Origin for desiccate

C16: from Latin dēsiccāre to dry up, from de- + siccāre to dry, from siccus dry

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for desiccate

desiccate

[ dĕs′ĭ-kāt′ ]

To remove the moisture from something or dry it thoroughly.♦ A desiccator is a container that removes moisture from the air within it.♦ A desiccator contains a desiccant, a substance that traps or absorbs water molecules. Some desiccants include silica gel (silicon dioxide), calcium sulfate (dehydrated gypsum), calcium oxide (calcined lime), synthetic molecular sieves (porous crystalline aluminosilicates), and dried clay.

desiccate

Origin of desiccate

OTHER WORDS FROM desiccate

Words nearby desiccate

Words related to desiccate

How to use desiccate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for desiccate

Derived forms of desiccate

Word Origin for desiccate

Scientific definitions for desiccate