desiccate (redirected from desiccates)

des·ic·cate  (ds-kt)

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 (-kt)

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

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[Latin dsiccre, dsicct- : d-, de- + siccre, to dry up (from siccus, dry).]

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desic·cation n.

desic·cative adj.

desic·cator n.

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desiccate

Verb

[-cating, -cated] to remove most of the water from; dry [Latin desiccare to dry up]

desiccated adj
desiccation n

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desiccate  (ds-kt)

To remove the moisture from something or dry it thoroughly. A desiccator is a container that removes moisture from the air within it. A desiccator contains a desiccant, a substance that traps or absorbs water molecules. Some desiccants include silica gel (silicon dioxide), calcium sulfate (dehydrated gypsum), calcium oxide (calcined lime), synthetic molecular sieves (porous crystalline aluminosilicates), and dried clay.

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	desiccate - preserve by removing all water and liquids from; "carry dehydrated food on your camping trip" dehydrate preserve, keep - prevent (food) from rotting; "preserved meats"; "keep potatoes fresh"
	2.	desiccate - remove water from; "All this exercise and sweating has dehydrated me" dehydrate dry, dry out - remove the moisture from and make dry; "dry clothes"; "dry hair"
	3.	desiccate - lose water or moisture; "In the desert, you get dehydrated very quickly" dry up, exsiccate, dehydrate dry, dry out - remove the moisture from and make dry; "dry clothes"; "dry hair"
Adj.	1.	desiccate - lacking vitality or spirit; lifeless; "a technically perfect but arid performance of the sonata"; "a desiccate romance"; "a prissy and emotionless creature...settles into a mold of desiccated snobbery"-C.J.Rolo arid, desiccated dull - lacking in liveliness or animation; "he was so dull at parties"; "a dull political campaign"; "a large dull impassive man"; "dull days with nothing to do"; "how dull and dreary the world is"; "fell back into one of her dull moods"