desiccate Hear it!

desiccate Definition

des·ic·cate (des′i kāt′)

transitive verb -·cat′ed, -·cat′·ing

  1. to dry completely
  2. to preserve (food) by drying

Etymology: < 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

desiccate Related Forms
des′·ic·ca′·tion noun des′·ic·ca′·tive (des′i kāt′iv, də sik′ət iv) adjective, noun
desiccate Synonyms

desiccate

v.

  1. To dry

    dry up, parch, exsiccate, drain; see dry 2.

  2. To preserve

    dehydrate, anhydrate, evaporate, freeze-dry; see preserve 3.

desiccate Usage Examples

Object

  • crop: Take care to avoid spray drift onto field boundaries and buffer zones when burning off or desiccating crops.
  • wind: Some lichens and microbes even live inside translucent rocks to shelter from high radiation levels and desiccating winds!
  • root: Go through 2/3 times and try and desiccate the roots.