dehydrate

de·hy·drate | \ (ˌ)dē-ˈhī-ˌdrāt

How to pronounce dehydrate (audio)

\

dehydrated; dehydrating; dehydrates

Definition of dehydrate

transitive verb

1a : to remove bound water or hydrogen and oxygen from (a chemical compound) in the proportion in which they form water

b : to remove water from (something, such as a food)

2 : to deprive of vitality or savor

intransitive verb

: to lose water or body fluids

Other Words from dehydrate Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about dehydrate

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Did You Know?

Dehydrating food is a good way to preserve it; raisins, which are dehydrated grapes, are a good example. Dehydration through industrial processes makes it possible to keep food even longer and store it in a smaller space. Freeze-drying produces food that only needs rehydration—that is, the addition of water—to restore its original consistency. Runners, cyclists, and hikers fearful of dehydration seem to be constantly hydrating themselves nowadays, sometimes even using a shoulder pack with a tube going straight into the mouth. Dehydrate can also be used for making something "dry" or "lifeless;" thus, a dull teacher can dehydrate American history, and an unimaginative staging can dehydrate a great Shakespeare play.

Examples of dehydrate in a Sentence

Salt dehydrates the meat and keeps it from spoiling. Athletes drink lots of water so they don't dehydrate. Exercising in this heat will dehydrate you.

Recent Examples on the Web Just be sure to limit use of your exfoliator to once per week, the GH Beauty Lab recommends, to avoid dehydrating skin. — April Franzino, Good Housekeeping, "10 Best Remedies for Dry, Flaky Skin on Your Face — And How to Stop It in the First Place," 7 Jan. 2020 Police reports allege that many of the kids were sweating and visibly dehydrated. — Steve Helling, PEOPLE.com, "Colo. Daycare Owner Charged After Allegedly Hiding 26 Kids Behind Fake Wall to Avoid Detection," 27 Dec. 2019 The migrants often arrive emaciated, sick and dangerously dehydrated at the camp after seven to 10 days traveling through 10,000 square feet of jungle, officials said. — Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, "Immigration officials partner with Panama to boost screening of migrants passing through to US," 27 Aug. 2019 Some past contestants have said the show encouraged them to make dangerous decisions, such as dehydrating and developing disordered eating patterns. — Marisa Iati, Washington Post, "‘The Biggest Loser’ got a makeover, but experts say the new season is only slightly less harmful," 13 Dec. 2019 The tropical cocktail is topped with two slices of dehydrated pineapple cut into the classic Coco Chanel logo. — Tirion Morris, azcentral, "What to know about Chauncey Social, north Scottsdale's new nightclub and restaurant," 12 Dec. 2019 Photos of the bust show strainers that were used to dehydrate the liquid meth into crystal meth. — Rebecca Hennes, Houston Chronicle, "More than $15M worth of meth seized from northwest Houston home," 11 Dec. 2019 The results indicate the dog was severely dehydrated and starved. — Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati.com, "Police: Oxford man cages dog and doesn't return for over a month, starving animal to death," 4 Dec. 2019 One of the most important tactics with diarrhea is making hydration a priority, points out Rachel Franklin, MD, Medical Director, OU Physicians Family Medicine, in Oklahoma; that's because having diarrhea can be extremely dehydrating. — Leah Groth, Health.com, "7 Ways to Get Rid of Diarrhea Fast, According to Doctors," 1 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dehydrate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near dehydrate

dehydrochlorination

Statistics for dehydrate

Last Updated

18 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Dehydrate.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dehydrate. Accessed 19 January 2020.

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More Definitions for dehydrate

dehydrate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of dehydrate

somewhat technical

: to remove water or moisture from (something, such as food)

: to lose too much water

See the full definition for dehydrate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

dehydrate

de·hy·drate | \ dē-ˈhī-ˌdrāt

\

dehydrated; dehydrating

Kids Definition of dehydrate

1 : to take water from (as foods) dehydrate fruit

2 : to lose water or body fluids Athletes should avoid dehydrating.

dehydrate

de·hy·drate | \ (ˈ)dē-ˈhī-ˌdrāt

\

dehydrated; dehydrating

Medical Definition of dehydrate

transitive verb

1 : to remove bound water or hydrogen and oxygen from (a chemical compound) in the proportion in which they form water

2 : to remove water from (as foods)

intransitive verb

: to lose water or body fluids

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WORD OF THE DAY

intercalate

to insert between existing elements

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