— desiccation , n. — desiccative , adj.
/des"i kayt'/ , v. , desiccated, desiccating .
v.t.
1. to dry thoroughly; dry up.
2. to preserve (food) by removing moisture; dehydrate.
v.i.
3. to become thoroughly dried or dried up.
[ 1565-75; desiccatus dried up, ptp. of desiccare, equiv. to de- DE- + siccare, deriv. of siccus dry; see -ATE 1 ]