n.
Pronunciation: di- ' z ə rt
Function: verb
Etymology: French déserter, from Late Latin desertare, frequentative of Latin deserere
Date: 1603
transitive verb
1 : to withdraw from or leave usually without intent to return < desert a town>
2 a : to leave in the lurch < desert a friend in trouble> b : to abandon (military service) without leave
intransitive verb : to quit one's post, allegiance, or service without leave or justification especially : to abandon military duty without leave and without intent to return
synonyms see ABANDON
– de · sert · er noun