desiccation

verb (used with object), des·ic·cat·ed, des·ic·cat·ing.

1. to dry thoroughly; dry up.
2. to preserve (food) by removing moisture; dehydrate.

verb (used without object), des·ic·cat·ed, des·ic·cat·ing.

3. to become thoroughly dried or dried up.

verb

1. (tr) to remove most of the water from (a substance or material); dehydrate
2. (tr) to preserve (food) by removing moisture; dry
3. (intr) to become dried up

n.

early 15c., from Middle French desiccation or directly from Late Latin desiccationem (nominative desiccatio), noun of action from past participle stem of Latin desiccare “to make very dry,” from de- “thoroughly” + siccare “to dry” (see siccative).

v.

1570s (past participle adjective desicatt is attested from early 15c.), from Latin desiccatus, past participle of desiccare “to make very dry” (see desiccation). Related: Desiccated; desiccating.

n.

1. The process of being desiccated.

v.

1. To dry thoroughly; render free from moisture.

1. To remove the moisture from something or dry it thoroughly.♦ A desiccator is a container that removes moisture from the air within it.♦ A desiccator contains a desiccant, a substance that traps or absorbs water molecules. Some desiccants include silica gel (silicon dioxide), calcium sulfate (dehydrated gypsum), calcium oxide (calcined lime), synthetic molecular sieves (porous crystalline aluminosilicates), and dried clay.