desert

des|ert¹ [ˈdezət US -ərt] n

[Date: 1100-1200; : Old French; Origin: Late Latin desertum, from Latin desertus, past participle of deserere 'to desert']

1.) [U and C]

a large area of land where it is always very hot and dry, and there is a lot of sand

▪ the Sahara Desert

▪ This area of the country is mostly desert.

in the desert

▪ The plane crash-landed in the desert.

2.)

a place where there is no activity or where nothing interesting happens

▪ The railroad yard was a desert now.

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HINT

Do not confuse desert and dessert although they have similar spellings.

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desert ²

de|sert² [dıˈzə:t US -ˈzə:rt] v

[Date: 1300-1400; : French; Origin: déserter, from Latin desertus; DESERT¹]

1.) [T]

to leave someone or something and no longer help or support them

= ↑abandon

▪ Helen was deserted by her husband.

▪ Many of the party's traditional voters deserted it at the last election.

▪ The price rise caused many readers to desert the magazine.

desert sb for sb

▪ He deserted her for another woman.

2.) [T]

to leave a place so that it is completely empty

= ↑abandon

▪ The birds have deserted their nest.

3.) [I]

to leave the army, navy etc without permission

▪ Several hundred soldiers have deserted.

4.) [T]

if a feeling, quality, or skill deserts you, you no longer have it, especially at a time when you need it

▪ Mike's confidence seemed to have deserted him.