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: "Stalinism desiccated the grassroots of urban government" (Timothy J. Colton). v.intr. To become dry; dry out. adj. (also -kĭt) Lacking spirit or animation; arid: "There was only the sun-bruised and desiccate feeling in his mind" (J.R. Salamanca). [Latin dēsiccāre, dēsiccāt- : dē-, de- + siccāre, to dry up (from siccus, dry).] des′ic·cation n. desic·ca′tive adj. desic·ca′tor n. |
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