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desiccate

des·ic·cate [ déssi kàyt ] (past and past participle des·ic·cat·ed, present participle des·ic·cat·ing, 3rd person present singular des·ic·cates)

verb

Definition:

1. transitive verb remove or lose moisture: to remove the moisture from something, or become free of moisture

2. preserve food by drying: to preserve food by removing its moisture

3. transitive verb make uninteresting: to remove vitality from something

[Late 16th century. < Latin desiccat-, past participle of desiccare "dry out" < siccus "dry"]

des·ic·ca·tion [ dèssi káysh'n ] noun

des·ic·ca·tive [ déssi kàytiv ] adjective

des·ic·ca·tor noun

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