Main Entry:

¹des·ert

Pronunciation:

\ˈde-zərt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin desertum, from Latin, neuter of desertus, past participle of deserere to desert, from de- + serere to join together — more at series

Date:

13th century

1 a: arid land with usually sparse vegetation ; especially : such land having a very warm climate and receiving less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of sporadic rainfall annually b: an area of water apparently devoid of life2archaic : a wild uninhabited and uncultivated tract3: a desolate or forbidding area <lost in a desert of doubt>

— de·ser·tic \de-ˈzər-tik\ adjective

— des·ert·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective