I. ˈdrī adjective
( dri·er also dry·er ˈdrī(-ə)r ; dri·est also dry·est ˈdrī-əst)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English drȳge; akin to Old High German truckan dry, Old English drēahnian to drain
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : free or relatively free from a liquid and especially water
b. : not being in or under water
dry land
c. : lacking precipitation or humidity
a dry climate
2.
a. : characterized by exhaustion of a supply of liquid
a dry well
b. : devoid of running water
a dry ravine
c. : devoid of natural moisture
my throat was dry
d. : no longer sticky or damp
the paint is dry
e. : not giving milk
a dry cow
f. : lacking freshness : stale
g. : anhydrous
3.
a. : marked by the absence or scantiness of secretions
a dry cough
b. : not shedding or accompanied by tears
a dry sob
4. obsolete : involving no bloodshed or drowning
I would fain die a dry death — Shakespeare
5.
a. : marked by the absence of alcoholic beverages
a dry party
b. : prohibiting the manufacture or distribution of alcoholic beverages
a dry county
6. : served or eaten without butter or margarine
dry toast
7.
a. : lacking sweetness : sec
dry champagne
b. : having all or most sugar fermented to alcohol
a dry wine
dry beer
8.
a. : solid as opposed to liquid
dry groceries
b. : reduced to powder or flakes : dehydrated
dry milk
9. : functioning without lubrication
a dry clutch
10. of natural gas : containing no recoverable hydrocarbon (as gasoline)
11. : requiring no liquid in preparation or operation
a dry photocopying process
12.
a. : not showing or communicating warmth, enthusiasm, or tender feeling : severe
a dry style of painting
b. : wearisome , uninteresting
dry passages of description
c. : lacking embellishment : plain
the dry facts
13.
a. : not yielding what is expected or desired : unproductive
a writer going through a dry spell
b. : having no personal bias or emotional concern
the dry light of reason
c. : reserved , aloof
14. : marked by matter-of-fact, ironic, or terse manner of expression
a dry wit
15. : lacking smooth sound qualities
a dry rasping voice
16. : being a dry run
a dry rehearsal
• dry·ish ˈdrī-ish adjective
• dri·ly or dry·ly adverb
• dry·ness noun
II. verb
( dried ; dry·ing )
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
: to make dry
intransitive verb
: to become dry
• dry·able ˈdrī-ə-bəl adjective
III. noun
( plural drys )
Date: 13th century
1. : the condition of being dry : dryness
2. : something dry ; especially : a dry place
3. : prohibitionist