Definition of dry
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a : free or relatively free from a liquid and especially water
Mix the dry ingredients first. as dry as a bone
b : not being in or under water
happy to be on dry land
c meteorology : lacking precipitation or humidity
a dry climate
2a : characterized by exhaustion of a supply of liquid
a dry well
b geology : devoid of running water
a dry ravine
c : devoid of natural moisture
My throat was dry. dry leaves
d : no longer sticky or damp
The paint isn't dry yet.
e : not giving milk
a dry cow
f : lacking freshness : stale
3a : marked by the absence or scantiness of secretions
a dry cough
b : not shedding or accompanied by tears
a dry sob
4 obsolete : involving no bloodshed or drowning
I would fain die a dry death— William Shakespeare
5a : 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 alcohol
a : lacking sweetness : sec dry champagne
b : having all or most sugar fermented to alcohol
a dry wine dry beer
8a : solid as opposed to liquid
dry groceries
b : reduced to powder or flakes : dehydrated dry milk
c : dealing in dry goods or other nonperishable items
After breakfast, we head to the wet market along Graham Street in Hong Kong. The wet market sells foodstuffs; the adjacent dry market offers clothes, shoes, and other retail items.— Rudy Maxa
9 : functioning without lubrication
a dry clutch
11 : requiring no liquid in preparation or operation
a dry photocopying process
12a : not showing or communicating warmth, enthusiasm, or tender feeling : severe a dry style of painting
b : wearisome, uninteresting dry passages of description a dry lecturer
c : lacking embellishment : plain
13a : 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
14 : marked by matter-of-fact, ironic, or terse manner of expression
a dry wit has a very dry sense of humor
15 : lacking smooth sound qualities
a dry rasping voice
16 : being a dry run a dry rehearsal
dry
verbdried; drying
Definition of dry (Entry 2 of 3)
: to make dry (see dry entry 1)
drying her hair
: to become dry
waiting for the paint to dry
dry
noun plural drys
Definition of dry (Entry 3 of 3)
1 : the condition of being dry (see dry entry 1) : dryness
2 : something dry especially : a dry place
3 : prohibitionist
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Time Traveler for dry
The first known use of dry was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century