desert

One entry found for desert.

Main Entry: ¹des·ert
Pronunciation: 'de-z&rt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin desertum, from Latin, neuter of desertus, past participle of deserere to desert, from de- + serere to join together -- more at SERIES
1 a : arid land with usually sparse vegetation; especially : such land having a very warm climate and receiving less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of sporadic rainfall annually b : an area of water apparently devoid of life
2 archaic : a wild uninhabited and uncultivated tract
3 : a desolate or forbidding area <lost in a desert of doubt>
- de·ser·tic /de-'z&r-tik/ adjective
- des·ert·like /-"lIk/ adjective