v.
Pronunciation: ' de-si- ˌ k ā t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -cat · ed ; -cat · ing
Etymology: Latin desiccatus, past participle of desiccare to dry up, from de- + siccare to dry, from siccus dry ― more at SACK
Date: 1575
transitive verb
1 : to dry up
2 : to preserve (a food) by drying : DEHYDRATE
3 : to drain of emotional or intellectual vitality
intransitive verb : to become dried up
– des · ic · ca · tion \ ˌ de-si- ' k ā -sh ə n \ noun
– de · sic · ca · tive \ ' de-si- ˌ k ā -tiv \ adjective
– des · ic · ca · tor \ ' de-si- ˌ k ā -t ə r \ noun