desiccation

Everyday

1. The process of drying something out completely, or the state of being very dry. tree →
2. The removal of water from food, soil or living things. tree →

In the lessons

In science, desiccation is drying: food is dried to keep it longer, and desert plants and animals have tricks to survive desiccation. In geography, desiccation of land can lead to drought and cracked soil. In labs, a desiccator is a jar that keeps things dry. Phrases: «protect from desiccation», «desiccation cracks».

Examples

• Cacti have thick skin to avoid desiccation. tree →
• The pond's desiccation left fish stranded in the mud. tree →
• Desiccation is used to preserve fruit like raisins. tree →
• Mud cracks form during the desiccation of a lake bed. tree →
• Frogs must keep moist to avoid desiccation. tree →
• Raisins are grapes dried by desiccation in the sun. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Spelling trap: one «s», double «c»: desiccation (from the verb «desiccate»). The little «silica gel» packets in new shoes are desiccants: they soak up moisture to keep things dry. Formal or scientific word; everyday word is «drying out».