desiccative

Variant of desiccate

desiccate definition

des·ic·cate (des′i kāt′)

transitive verb desiccated -·cat′ed, desiccating -·cat′·ing

  1. to dry completely
  2. to preserve (food) by drying

Etymology: < L desiccatus, pp. of desiccare, to dry up completely < de-, intens. + siccare, to dry < siccus, dry < IE base *seikw-, to drip, pour out > OE seon, to trickle, sic, small stream

intransitive verb

to become completely dry

Related Forms:

  • desiccation des′·ic·ca′·tion noun
  • desiccative des′·ic·ca′·tive (des′i kāt′iv, də sik′ət iv) adjective, noun

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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