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desiccator

American  
[des-i-key-ter] / ˈdɛs ɪˌkeɪ tər /

noun

  1. an apparatus for drying fruit, milk, etc.

  2. Chemistry.

    1. an apparatus for absorbing the moisture present in a chemical substance.

    2. an airtight, usually glass container containing calcium chloride or some other drying agent for absorbing the moisture of another substance placed in the container.


desiccator British  
/ ˈdɛsɪˌkeɪtə /

noun

  1. any apparatus for drying milk, fruit, etc

  2. an airtight box or jar containing a desiccant, used to dry chemicals and protect them from the water vapour in the atmosphere

"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

Etymology

Origin of desiccator

First recorded in 1830–40; desiccate + -or 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sections were vacuum dried in a desiccator before analysis.

From Nature • Feb. 7, 2017

When very accurate dry matter determinations are desired, the substance is dried in a vacuum oven, or in a desiccator over sulphuric acid, or in an atmosphere of some non-oxidizing gas, as hydrogen.

From Human Foods and Their Nutritive Value by Snyder, Harry

Ten minutes later connect up the desiccator to a sulphuric acid wash-bottle interposing an air filter so that only dry sterile air enters.

From The Elements of Bacteriological Technique A Laboratory Guide for Medical, Dental, and Technical Students. Second Edition Rewritten and Enlarged. by Eyre, J. W. H. (John William Henry)

The hydrochlorate gives up a part of its water of crystallization at the ordinary temperature under a desiccator over sulphuric acid, and the whole of it upon heating.—Chemist and Druggist.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 315, January 14, 1882 by Various

It is left upon the bath until all the moisture has been driven off, then it is allowed to cool for about half-an-hour in a desiccator and is weighed.

From Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise by Sanford, P. Gerald (Percy Gerald)