des·ic·cate (d s  -k t )v. des·ic·cat·ed, des·ic·cat·ing, des·ic·cates v.tr. 1. To dry out thoroughly. 2. To preserve (foods) by removing the moisture. See Synonyms at dry. 3. To make dry, dull, or lifeless. v.intr. To become dry; dry out. adj. also (-k t) Lacking spirit or animation; arid: "There was only the sun-bruised and desiccate feeling in his mind" (J.R. Salamanca). [Latin d  siccre, dsicct- : d-, de- + siccre, to dry up (from siccus, dry).]des ic·cation n.des ic·cative adj.des ic·cator n. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | desiccation - dryness resulting from the removal of water dryness, waterlessness, xerotes - the condition of not containing or being covered by a liquid (especially water) |
| 2. | desiccation - the process of extracting moisture extraction - the process of obtaining something from a mixture or compound by chemical or physical or mechanical means freeze-drying, lyophilisation, lyophilization - a method of drying food or blood plasma or pharmaceuticals or tissue without destroying their physical structure; material is frozen and then warmed in a vacuum so that the ice sublimes inspissation - the process of thickening by dehydration plastination - a process involving fixation and dehydration and forced impregnation and hardening of biological tissues; water and lipids are replaced by curable polymers (silicone or epoxy or polyester) that are subsequently hardened; "the plastination of specimens is valuable for research and teaching" |
Translations
Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|