desert
desert Lexical Profile
desert Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A barren, arid biome or landscape area that receives very little precipitation, consequently resulting in hostile living conditions for plant and animal life.
"Camels are uniquely adapted to survive long journeys across the scorching desert."
A situation, place, or period considered dull, uninteresting, or devoid of a particular vital resource or quality (such as a food desert or cultural desert).
"Before the new community theater opened, the suburb was considered a cultural desert."
A reward or punishment that a person rightfully deserves (usually used in the plural, especially in the phrase 'just deserts').
"After years of deceiving his business partners, the fraudster finally got his just deserts in court."
• adjective
Relating to, characteristic of, or resembling a dry, barren desert.
"The botanical garden features a glass conservatory filled with rare desert plants."
Uninhabited and desolate (now chiefly used in the phrase 'desert island').
"The castaways survived for months on a remote desert island in the Pacific."
• verb
To abandon a person, cause, or organization in a way considered disloyal or treacherous.
"His closest allies began to desert him once the financial scandal became public."
To leave a place, causing it to appear empty and uninhabited.
"Tourists quickly desert the coastal resort towns as soon as the autumn rains begin."
To illegally run away from military service without permission and with no intention of returning.
"Harsh winter conditions and dwindling rations caused several recruits to desert from the garrison."
To fail someone when needed most (of a quality, skill, or courage).
"Her usual composure seemed to desert her when she stepped onto the stage."
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently confused with 'dessert' (a sweet course eaten at the end of a meal). Note also that 'desert' has two distinct pronunciations: stressed on the first syllable for the arid biome noun and adjective, and stressed on the second syllable (sounding like 'dessert') for the verb meaning to abandon and the plural noun phrase 'just deserts'.
• Rhymes for desert
Word Origin & Etymology
The noun (arid land) and verb (to abandon) derive via Old French from Late Latin 'desertum' (a wasteland), originally the neuter past participle of Latin 'deserere' ('to forsake, abandon'), from 'de-' ('undo') + 'serere' ('to join or bind'). The sense in 'just deserts' comes separately from Old French 'deserte', from 'deservir' ('to deserve').