- Main Entry:
- 1dry
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈdrī\
- Function:
- adjective
- Inflected Form(s):
- dri·er also dry·er \ˈdrī(-ə)r\; dri·est also dry·est \ˈdrī-əst\
- Etymology:
- Middle English, from Old English drȳge; akin to Old High German truckan dry, Old English drēahnian to drain
- Date:
- before 12th century
1 a: free or relatively free from a liquid and especially water b: not being in or under water <dry land> c: lacking precipitation or humidity <a dry climate>2 a: characterized by exhaustion of a supply of liquid <a dry well> b: devoid of running water <a dry ravine> c: devoid of natural moisture <my throat was dry> d: no longer sticky or damp <the paint is dry> e: not giving milk <a dry cow> f: lacking freshness : stale g: anhydrous3 a: marked by the absence or scantiness of secretions <a dry cough> b: not shedding or accompanied by tears <a dry sob>4obsolete : involving no bloodshed or drowning <I would fain die a dry death — Shakespeare>5 a: marked by the absence of alcoholic beverages <a dry party> b: prohibiting the manufacture or distribution of alcoholic beverages <a dry county>6: served or eaten without butter or margarine <dry toast>7 a: lacking sweetness : sec <dry champagne> b: having all or most sugar fermented to alcohol <a dry wine> <dry beer>8 a: solid as opposed to liquid <dry groceries> b: reduced to powder or flakes : dehydrated <dry milk>9: functioning without lubrication <a dry clutch>10of natural gas : containing no recoverable hydrocarbon (as gasoline)11: requiring no liquid in preparation or operation <a dry photocopying process>12 a: not showing or communicating warmth, enthusiasm, or tender feeling : severe <a dry style of painting> b: wearisome, uninteresting <dry passages of description> c: lacking embellishment : plain <the dry facts>13 a: not yielding what is expected or desired : unproductive <a writer going through a dry spell> b: having no personal bias or emotional concern <the dry light of reason> c: reserved, aloof14: marked by matter-of-fact, ironic, or terse manner of expression <a dry wit>15: lacking smooth sound qualities <a dry rasping voice>16: being a dry run <a dry rehearsal>
—
dry·ish \ˈdrī-ish\ adjective — dri·ly or dry·ly adverb
— dry·ness noun
