desiccate
What does "desiccate" mean?
To desiccate is to remove the moisture from something, typically in order to preserve it. Imagine a piece of fruit left in the scorching sun until it shrivels into a hard, dry shell, or a laboratory sample being placed in a vacuum chamber to strip away every last drop of water. While it is related to "drying," desiccate implies a more thorough, often scientific or industrial process of dehydration. You will hear it used in biology to describe organisms that survive by drying out, or in chemistry when referring to agents that pull humidity out of the air. It is rarely used in casual conversation; if you are talking about laundry, just use "dry."
"desiccate" in conversation
In a chemistry lab
Make sure you place the chemical compound in the desiccator.
Make sure you place the chemical compound in the desiccator.
Will that fully desiccate the sample before we weigh it?
Will that fully desiccate the sample before we weigh it?
Used here in a technical context regarding the removal of moisture for precise measurements.
Discussing desert plants
How do these mosses survive in such a harsh climate?
How do these mosses survive in such a harsh climate?
They desiccate almost completely during the heat of the day and revive when it rains.
They desiccate almost completely during the heat of the day and revive when it rains.
Shows the biological usage of the word to describe extreme dehydration.
"desiccate" in a sentence
The heat began to desiccate the fallen leaves.
The heat began to desiccate the fallen leaves.
The company uses specialized silica gel packets to desiccate their electronics during shipping.
The company uses specialized silica gel packets to desiccate their electronics during shipping.
Prolonged exposure to the arid winds served to desiccate the landscape, leaving the soil cracked and barren.
Prolonged exposure to the arid winds served to desiccate the landscape, leaving the soil cracked and barren.
