semidesert

[ sem-ee-dez-ert, sem-ahy- ]

noun

1. an extremely dry area characterized by sparse vegetation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of semidesert¹

First recorded in 1840–50; semi- + desert ¹

Example Sentences

Because of the semidesert landscape, the trees that grow here are small and twisted, so reed mats packed with mud serve as walls and cooking surfaces.

From Seattle Times

Today, water recycling, desalination and drip irrigation, among other tools, have all helped turn the semidesert country into one with a water surplus.

From Los Angeles Times

At the valley’s southernmost tip, which is surrounded by a shrub-steppe semidesert and is one of Canada’s hottest spots, conditions are ideal for reds such as syrahs and merlots.

From Washington Post

At the very least, the monsoonal flow gives Los Angeles a sticky, tropical feel, making a dry semidesert uncharacteristically muggy.

From Los Angeles Times

French fighter planes repeatedly struck a rebel column deep in northern Chad, in the impoverished country’s semidesert northeast, stopping the rebels in their tracks.

From New York Times