Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » desiccate

desiccate

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

To desiccate is defined as to dry, or to preserve a food.

(verb)

An example of desiccate is slice a banana and put in a food dehydrator.

See desiccate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

to dry completely
to preserve (food) by drying

Origin: < L desiccatus, pp. of desiccare, to dry up completely < de-, intens. + siccare, to dry < siccus, dry < IE base *seikw-, to drip, pour out > OE seon, to trickle, sic, small stream

intransitive verb

to become completely dry

Related Forms:

desiccation noun
desiccative adjective, noun

See desiccate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb des·ic·cat·ed, des·ic·cat·ing, des·ic·cates

verb, transitive

To dry out thoroughly.
To preserve (foods) by removing the moisture. See Synonyms at dry.
To make dry, dull, or lifeless.

verb, intransitive

To become dry; dry out.

adjective also (-kĭt)

Lacking spirit or animation; arid: “There was only the sun-bruised and desiccate feeling in his mind” (J.R. Salamanca).

Origin:

Origin: Latin dēsiccāre, dēsiccāt-

Origin: : dē-, de-

Origin: + siccāre, to dry up (from siccus, dry)

Related Forms:

desˌic·caˈtion noun

desˈic·caˌtive adjective

desˈic·caˌtor noun

Learn more about desiccate

desiccate synonyms

desiccate medical definition

desiccate science

desiccate in a sentence

link/cite print suggestion box

More from YD