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desiccant

American  
[des-i-kuhnt] / ˈdɛs ɪ kənt /

adjective

  1. desiccating or drying, as a medicine.

noun

  1. a desiccant substance or agent.

desiccant British  
/ ˈdɛsɪkənt /

adjective

  1. desiccating or drying

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of desiccant

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Water-adsorption polymers have been playing a key part in atmospheric water harvesting and desiccant air conditioning, but desorption so that the polymers can be efficiently reused has been an issue.

From Science Daily • Nov. 27, 2024

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

From BBC • May 27, 2024

“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 • Nov. 16, 2023

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

From Scientific American • Aug. 29, 2023

Subsequent treatment consists in a local application of a desiccant dusting powder, which should be applied five or six times daily.

From Lameness of the Horse Veterinary Practitioners' Series, No. 1 by Lacroix, John Victor

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.