des|ert1 «DEHZ uhrt», noun, adjective.
–n.
1. a) a barren region with little or no rainfall, usually sandy and without trees. The Sahara is a great desert in the northern part of Africa.
b) a barren region with little or no vegetation because of cold, perpetual snow, or ice: »
Physiologically the Antarctic is a desert, the air is extremely dry and the surface frozen (Gabriele Rabel).
2. a region that is not inhabited or cultivated;
wilderness.
3. Figurative. a place or environment lacking intellectual or spiritual stimulation: »
a cultural desert.
–adj.
1. dry and barren: »
Arabia is largely desert land. The board would build dams to harness electrical power and irrigate desert wastelands (Newsweek).
2. not inhabited or cultivated;
wild: »
Robinson Crusoe was shipwrecked on a desert island.
╂[< Latin
dēsertum (
thing) abandoned, neuter past participle of Latin
dēserere; see etym. at
desert2 (
Cf. ↑
desert)]
Synonym Study noun. 1a,
2 Desert,
wilderness mean an uninhabited or uncultivated region.
Desert emphasizes dryness and barrenness and applies to a region that is usually sandy and without water, trees, or inhabitants: »
Great sections of desert in Arizona and California have been made into farmland by irrigation.
A
desert island, however, might be a verdant place which is merely deserted.
Wilderness emphasizes lack of trails and roads and applies particularly to a region where few men have ever been and which is covered with dense vegetation: »
Daniel Boone lived in Kentucky when it was still a wilderness.
de|sert2 «dih ZURT», transitive verb.
1. to go away and leave (a person or a place, especially one that should not be left);
forsake: »
A husband should not desert his wife and children. After the family deserted the farm, its buildings fell into ruin.
SYNONYM(S): abandon.
2. to run away from (
duty); leave without permission and without intending to return: »
The young boy deserted the army because he was afraid.
3. to fail (
one) when needed;
leave: »
His self-confidence deserted him.
–v.i.
1. to run away from duty.
2. to leave military service without permission and without intending to return: »
A soldier who deserts is punished.
╂[< Old French
deserter < Late Latin
dēsertāre (
frequentative) < Latin
dēserere abandon <
dē- away +
serere join]
Synonym Study transitive verb. 1 Desert,
forsake,
abandon mean to leave someone or something completely.
Desert suggests breaking a vow or running away from a duty and without intending to return, therefore almost always implying blame: »
He deserted his country and helped the enemy.
Forsake suggests breaking away from someone or something once regarded with affection, but does not necessarily imply blame: »
He forsook his family to study medicine.
Abandon emphasizes that the action is final and complete: »
They abandoned the wrecked plane.
de|sert3 «dih ZURT», noun.
1. Usually,
deserts. what one deserves; suitable reward or punishment: »
The reckless driver got his just deserts when he was fined and his driver's license was suspended. The characters of great men…sooner or later receive the wages of fame or infamy according to their true deserts (William Cowper).
3. the act or fact of deserving.
╂[< Old French
deserte, past participle of
deservir < Latin
dēservīre; see etym. under
deserve (
Cf. ↑
deserve)]