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Desert: meaning, definitions and examples

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desert

 

[ ˈdez.ərt ]

Noun / Verb
Oxford 3000 The environment
Context #1 | Noun

hot climate

A large, dry, barren area of land, often covered with sand or rocks.

Synonyms

barren land, wasteland

Examples of usage

  • The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world.
  • The desert is known for its extreme temperatures during the day.
Context #2 | Noun

sweet food

A sweet course typically consisting of pastry or fruit.

Synonyms

pudding, sweet

Examples of usage

  • She enjoyed a delicious chocolate dessert after dinner.
  • I always save room for dessert when dining out.
Context #3 | Verb

to abandon

To leave (a place), causing it to appear empty or uninhabited.

Synonyms

abandon, forsake

Examples of usage

  • The soldiers were forced to desert their post.
  • She felt betrayed when her friends deserted her in time of need.

Translations

Translations of the word "desert" in other languages:

🇵🇹 deserto

🇮🇳 रेगिस्तान

🇩🇪 Wüste

🇮🇩 gurun

🇺🇦 пустеля

🇵🇱 pustynia

🇯🇵 砂漠 (さばく)

🇫🇷 désert

🇪🇸 desierto

🇹🇷 çöl

🇰🇷 사막

🇸🇦 صحراء

🇨🇿 poušť

🇸🇰 púšť

🇨🇳 沙漠 (shāmò)

🇸🇮 puščava

🇮🇸 eyðimörk

🇰🇿 шөл

🇬🇪 უდაბნო

🇦🇿 səhrə

🇲🇽 desierto

Etymology

The word 'desert' comes from the Latin word 'desertum', which means 'an abandoned place'. Over time, the meaning has evolved to refer to arid, barren landscapes as well as sweet treats served after a meal. The verb form of 'desert' originated from the Old French word 'deserter', meaning 'to abandon'.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,916, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.