adjective drier dri′er, driest dri′·est

1. not watery; not under water dry land
2. having no moisture; not wet or damp
3. not shedding tears
4. lacking rain or water a dry summer
5. having lost liquid or moisture; specif.,
   1. arid; withered
   2. empty of water or other liquid
   3. dehydrated
6. needing water or drink; thirsty
7. not yielding milk a dry cow
8. without butter, jam, etc. on it dry toast
9. solid; not liquid
10. not sweet; unsweetened; sec dry wine
11. having no mucous or watery discharge a dry cough
12. ☆ prohibiting or opposed to the manufacture or sale of alcoholic beverages a dry town
13. not colored by emotion, prejudice, etc.; plain; matter-of-fact dry facts
14. clever and shrewd but ironic or subtle dry wit
15. not producing results; unfruitful a dry interview
16. boring, dull, or tedious a dry lecture
17. harsh; grating: said of a sound
18. Obsolete without bleeding a dry death

Etymology: ME drie < OE dryge, akin to Ger trocken, Du droog < IE *dhereugh-, fast, firm, solid (< base *dher-, to hold out, hold fast > firm)

noun

1. Rare dryness or drought
2. Rare dry land
3. pl. drys☆ Informal a prohibitionist

transitive verb, intransitive verb dried, drying dry′·ing