Desiccate: meaning, definitions and examples

Primarily used in scientific, technical, or severe contexts to indicate the removal of all moisture from a substance.

• The laboratory equipment was used to desiccate the samples for analysis
• The desert's extreme conditions desiccate the plants, leaving them brittle

Commonly used when referring to the removal of water from something, often food or the human body. It is also used in medical or casual contexts.

• It's important to drink water frequently in the heat to avoid dehydration
• The food processor can dehydrate fruits for longer storage

Typically used in everyday speech to describe the process of something losing moisture. It can also carry a slightly negative connotation when something has lost water undesirably.

• Don't leave the paint can open, or it will dry out
• The constant exposure to air will dry out the clay

Used to describe the act of maintaining something in its existing state, often with the implication of extending its longevity. Frequently used in context with food, historical artifacts, and natural resources.

• People have been preserving fruits by making jams for centuries
• Measures are being taken to preserve the historic building