desiccated

/ˈdesɪkeɪtɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdesɪkeɪtɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈde-si-ˌkā-təd/ (ame, mw)

desiccated — adjective

  • desiccatedpositive
  • more desiccatedcomparative
  • most desiccatedsuperlative

1. having had all water or liquid taken out, usually so that the material can be ke

1.形容詞B2
釋義

having had all water or liquid taken out, usually so that the material can be kept for a long time without spoiling

例句

For the cake recipe, Theo bought a bag of desiccated coconut at the market.

desiccated + coconut (common food collocation)

The desiccated plant cells appeared shrivelled and brittle under the microscope.

desiccated + plant cells (scientific context)

同義詞
  • dehydrated

    usually implies mechanical or chemical water removal; more technical than desiccated

  • dried

    general term; less formal than desiccated and covers both natural and artificial drying

  • parched

    usually describes land or soil that is extremely dry from heat, not processed food

反義詞
  • moist

    slightly wet; the opposite of thoroughly dried

  • hydrated

    containing water; used especially for biological or chemical contexts

  • fresh

    not dried or preserved; in its natural state

文法句型

desiccated + noun

用法筆記

Frequently appears before a noun naming a food or organic material (coconut, fruit, herbs, plant tissue). The term is more technical than the everyday word 'dried' and is common in food labelling, laboratory descriptions, and preservation contexts.

常見錯誤

❌I bought some dessicated coconut.
✅I bought some desiccated coconut.
💡The word has one 's' in the middle, not two: desiccated, not dessicated.
❌The desiccated fruit was still wet inside.
✅The dried fruit was still wet inside.
💡'Desiccated' implies the moisture has been thoroughly removed; if it is still wet, use 'dried' or 'partially dried' instead.

2. extremely dull and lacking any freshness, originality, or emotional energy — lik

2.形容詞C1
釋義

extremely dull and lacking any freshness, originality, or emotional energy — like an idea or piece of writing that has been repeated so often it has become lifeless

例句

Critics called the sequel a collection of desiccated ideas recycled from the original film.

desiccated + ideas (figurative use for stale thinking)

The professor's desiccated lecture on tax law made half the students glance at their watches.

同義詞
  • stale

    commoner and less formal; suggests ideas that are old and no longer fresh

  • lifeless

    emphasises the absence of energy or vitality rather than dryness

  • humdrum

    focuses on monotony and lack of variety rather than creative dryness

反義詞
  • lively

    full of energy and interest; the direct opposite in creative contexts

  • fresh

    new and original; the opposite of stale or worn-out

  • vibrant

    full of life and energy; used especially of cultural scenes or writing

文法句型

desiccated + noun

用法筆記

Used figuratively to criticise intellectual or creative work — speeches, writing, policies, cultural products. The image is of something that has been 'dried out' until all life and juice is gone. Strongly negative; avoid in neutral descriptions.

常見錯誤

❌The weather was desiccated and dry.
✅The weather was dry and hot.
💡'Desiccated' describes a state of having been dried, not the weather itself; use 'arid' or 'dry' for climate.
❌I had a desiccated time at the party.
✅I had a dull time at the party.
💡'Desiccated' is too strong and formal for casual social disappointment; use 'dull', 'boring', or 'tedious' instead.