dehydrate

[ dee-hahy-dreyt ]

verb (used with object)

, de·hy·drat·ed, de·hy·drat·ing.

1. to deprive (a chemical compound) of water or the elements of water.
2. to free (fruit, vegetables, etc.) from moisture for preservation; dry.
3. to remove water from (the body or a tissue).
4. to deprive of spirit, force, or meaning; render less interesting or effectual.

verb (used without object)

, de·hy·drat·ed, de·hy·drat·ing.

1. to lose water or moisture:

   Milk dehydrates easily.

dehydrate

/ ˌdiːhaɪˈdreɪt; diːˈhaɪdreɪt /

verb

1. to lose or cause to lose water; make or become anhydrous
2. to lose or cause to lose hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms in the proportions in which they occur in water, as in a chemical reaction
3. to lose or deprive of water, as the body or tissues

Derived Forms

• deˈhydrator, noun
• ˌdehyˈdration, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dehydrate¹

First recorded in 1850–55; de- + hydrate

Synonym Study

See evaporate.

Example Sentences

"We know that tardigrades have multiple intrinsic proteins for cryptobiosis that allow the tardigrades to dehydrate or freeze without damage to the cell membranes and enhance their survival from extreme conditions that kill most living organisms," Nelson said.

From Salon

Thanks to modern technology, you can achieve much the same effect without building a backyard drying rack: An oven or specialized countertop machine can generally dehydrate food in less than 12 hours and all you have to do is slice your ingredient evenly, spread it all out in a single layer and press a button.

From Salon

Mehta recommends switching to a hydrating, more cream based, cleanser and also decreasing application of products such as retinoids, exfoliant, and vitamin C, which can dehydrate skin.

From National Geographic

“I saw laxatives, I saw caffeine pills, diet pills, things that probably shouldn’t be sold on a market. I saw prescription drug abuse, you name it. I’ve not had water for 24 hours ahead of a swimsuit competition so that I would dehydrate myself to the point of, you could see my muscles, and I’m not the only one.”

From Los Angeles Times

They dehydrate dangerously quickly without it, even in cooler seasons.

From Literature

Related Words

• dry out