drying

American  

[drahy-ing] / ˈdraɪ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing dryness.

   a drying breeze.

2. designed to become or capable of becoming dry and hard on exposure to air.

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drying British  

/ ˈdraɪɪŋ /

noun

1. the action or process of making or becoming dry

2. Also called (not now in technical usage): seasoning.  the processing of timber until it has a moisture content suitable for the purposes for which it is to be used

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adjective

1. causing dryness

   a drying wind

Other Word Forms

• nondrying adjective
• undrying adjective

Etymology

Origin of drying

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; dry, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Mom peeked out from the kitchen, drying her hands on a dish towel.

From Literature

Danny washed his plate and set it on the drying rack.

From Literature

Mama was washing, Daddy was drying, and I was putting away the dishes from lunch.

From Literature

The cuticular hydrocarbons have another function: they form a waxy barrier that prevents the beetle from drying out.

From Los Angeles Times

As Chase was drying his hair in the Shack’s kitchen, he realized that they didn’t have a single photograph hanging up, from either their former or current life.

From Literature