DRY


Meaning of DRY in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ draɪ ]

( drier, or dryer, driest, dries, drying, dried)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.

If something is dry , there is no water or moisture on it or in it.

Clean the metal with a soft dry cloth...

Pat it dry with a soft towel...

Once the paint is dry, apply a coat of the red ochre emulsion paint...

≠ wet, damp

ADJ

• dry‧ness

...the parched dryness of the air.

N-UNCOUNT

2.

When something dries or when you dry it, it becomes dry.

Leave your hair to dry naturally whenever possible...

Wash and dry the lettuce...

VERB : V , V n

3.

When you dry the dishes after a meal, you wipe the water off the plates, cups, knives, pans, and other things when they have been washed, using a cloth.

Mrs. Madrigal began drying dishes.

= wipe

VERB : V n

Dry up means the same as dry . ( BRIT )

He got up and stood beside Julie, drying up the dishes while she washed.

PHRASAL VERB : V P n (not pron)

4.

If you say that your skin or hair is dry , you mean that it is less oily than, or not as soft as, normal.

Nothing looks worse than dry, cracked lips...

≠ greasy

ADJ

• dry‧ness

Dryness of the skin can also be caused by living in centrally heated homes and offices.

N-UNCOUNT

5.

If the weather or a period of time is dry , there is no rain or there is much less rain than average.

Exceptionally dry weather over the past year had cut agricultural production...

≠ wet

ADJ

6.

A dry place or climate is one that gets very little rainfall.

...a hot, dry climate where the sun is shining all the time.

= arid

≠ wet

ADJ : usu ADJ n

• dry‧ness

He was advised to spend time in the warmth and dryness of Italy.

N-UNCOUNT

7.

In the dry means in a place or at a time that is not damp, wet, or rainy. ( mainly BRIT )

Such cars, however, do grip the road well, even in the dry.

≠ wet

N-SING : the N , usu in N

8.

If a river, lake, or well is dry , it is empty of water, usually because of hot weather and lack of rain.

ADJ

9.

If an oil well is dry , it is no longer producing any oil.

ADJ : usu v-link ADJ

10.

If your mouth or throat is dry , it has little or no saliva in it, and so feels very unpleasant, perhaps because you are tense or ill.

His mouth was dry, he needed a drink...

ADJ : usu v-link ADJ

• dry‧ness

Symptoms included frequent dryness in the mouth.

N-UNCOUNT : usu with supp

11.

If someone has dry eyes, there are no tears in their eyes; often used with negatives or in contexts where you are expressing surprise that they are not crying.

There were few dry eyes in the house when I finished...

≠ moist

ADJ

12.

If a country, state, or city is dry , it has laws or rules which forbid anyone to drink, sell, or buy alcoholic drink. ( INFORMAL )

Gujurat has been a totally dry state for the past thirty years.

= teetotal

ADJ

13.

If you say that someone is sucking something dry or milking it dry , you are criticizing them for taking all the good things from it until there is nothing left.

He’s just milking the company dry.

ADJ : v n ADJ [ disapproval ]

14.

Dry humour is very amusing, but in a subtle and clever way.

Fulton has retained his dry humour...

ADJ : usu ADJ n [ approval ]

• dri‧ly

‘That is surprising.’—‘Hardly,’ I said drily.

ADV : ADV with v , ADV adj

• dry‧ness

Her writing has a wry dryness.

N-UNCOUNT

15.

If you describe something such as a book, play, or activity as dry , you mean that it is dull and uninteresting.

...dry, academic phrases.

ADJ [ disapproval ]

16.

Dry bread or toast is plain and not covered with butter or jam.

For breakfast, they had dry bread and tea.

ADJ : ADJ n

17.

Dry sherry or wine does not have a sweet taste.

...a glass of chilled, dry white wine.

≠ sweet

ADJ

18.

high and dry: see high

home and dry: see home

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Английский словарь Коллинз COBUILD для изучающих язык на продвинутом уровне.