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

Using sunlight or renewable electricity they heat the desiccant to 65C which releases the moisture, which can then be condensed into drinking water.

From BBC

Because moisture is an enemy of the instrument, into the bag went dozens of bags of moisture-grabbing desiccant, each the size of a small pillow and weighing several pounds — industrial-sized versions of the tiny packs that come with many consumer electronics products.

From Seattle Times

Mechanical dehumidifiers work in one of two ways - either they use a refrigerant to cool down a surface inside the machine, where moisture condenses for collection, or they use a desiccant substance that draws the moisture in.

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

Related Words

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