desiccant

[ des-i-kuhnt ]

adjective

1. desiccating or drying, as a medicine.

noun

1. a desiccant substance or agent.

desiccant

/ ˈdɛsɪkənt /

adjective

1. desiccating or drying

noun

1. a substance, such as calcium oxide, that absorbs water and is used to remove moisture; a drying agent

Word History and Origins

Origin of desiccant¹

1670–80; < Latin dēsiccant-, stem of dēsiccāns, present participle of dēsiccāre to dry up. See desiccate, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of desiccant¹

C17: from Latin dēsiccāns drying up; see desiccate

Example Sentences

Their system converts air to water using atmospheric water generators that contain a liquid desiccant, which absorbs moisture from the air.

From BBC

Separate from the recalled Takata inflators are about 30 million that contain a moisture-absorbing chemical called a desiccant that is meant to keep the ammonium nitrate dry and stable.

From Seattle Times

“These restrictions include a prohibition of pre-harvest use as a desiccant and the need for certain measures to protect non-target organisms,” it said in a statement.

From Seattle Times

The liquid salt desiccant then runs through a heat pump system to be recharged.

From Scientific American

The 30 million vehicles that are part of the 2021 investigation have inflators with a "desiccant" or drying agent.

From Reuters

Related Words

• arid
• bare
• barren
• dehydrated
• dusty
• parched
• stale
• torrid