desert definition - Dictionary

MSN homeMailMy MSN

encartagreeting cards

encarta®

Dictionary

Thesaurus

Translations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

desert (1)

des·ert [ dézzərt ] (plural des·erts)

noun

Definition:

1. dry area: an area of land, usually in very hot climates, that consists only of sand, gravel, or rock with little or no vegetation, no permanent bodies of water, and erratic rainfall

2. deprived place: a place or situation that is devoid of some desirable thing or overwhelmed by an undesirable thing

a cultural desert

3. lifeless place: a place devoid of life

[12th century. Via French désert< late Latin desertum "abandoned place" < Latin desert- (see desert²)]

Word Usage


	desert or dessert? Dessert is a noun, is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable, and has only one modern meaning: "a sweet course eaten at the end of a meal." Desert is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable when it is a noun meaning "an arid area," and with the stress on the second syllable when it is a noun meaning "something somebody deserved," as in just deserts and similar expressions. The stress is also on the second syllable when desert is used as a verb, meaning "abandon something" or "run away."