desert
desert
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "desert" is /ˈdɛz.ɚt/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
ˈdɛz
/ˈ/ - primary stress
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop
/ɛ/ - open-mid front unrounded vowel
/z/ - voiced alveolar fricative
ɚt
/ɚ/ - rhotic schwa
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
The word "desert" has two main word forms:
Singular: desert (noun) - a dry, barren region with little or no vegetation.
Plural: deserts (noun) - more than one dry, barren region.
There are no other common word form variations of "desert."
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Desert (Noun)
Definitions:
A dry, barren region with little or no vegetation.
A vast, sandy or rocky area with extreme conditions.
Synonyms: wasteland, wilderness, parched land, arid region, outback Antonyms: oasis, fertile land, lush landscape
Desert (Verb)
Definitions:
To abandon or leave someone or something, especially in a difficult situation.
To forsake or neglect a duty or responsibility.
Synonyms: abandon, forsake, leave, betray, neglect Antonyms: support, assist, aid, help, attend to
Desert (Adjective)
Definitions:
Empty or deserted, lacking people or life.
Isolated or remote, far from civilization.
Synonyms: empty, deserted, abandoned, desolate, solitary Antonyms: populated, crowded, bustling, lively
Examples of Use
Noun (dry, barren region)
Book: "The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world." (Wikipedia)
Newspaper: "The Gobi Desert is a vast, arid region in Asia." (New York Times)
Online Publication: "The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth." (National Geographic)
Entertainment Medium: "The movie 'Dune' is set on the planet Arrakis, a desert world." (IMDb)
General Public Discourse: "I've always wanted to visit the Kalahari Desert."
Verb (to abandon or leave)
Book: "He deserted his post during the battle." (Historical novel)
Newspaper: "The soldier was accused of deserting his unit." (Military news)
Online Publication: "The dog deserted its owner during the storm." (Pet blog)
Entertainment Medium: "The character in the show deserts his family to pursue a new life." (TV series)
General Public Discourse: "I can't believe she would desert her friends in their time of need."
Adjective (empty, deserted)
Book: "The desert island was completely deserted." (Adventure novel)
Newspaper: "The abandoned town was a ghost town, a deserted wasteland." (Local news)
Online Publication: "The deserted building was a spooky place to explore." (Haunted house blog)
Entertainment Medium: "The movie 'Mad Max: Fury Road' takes place in a post-apocalyptic desert wasteland." (Film review)
General Public Discourse: "The old library was a deserted building, untouched for years."
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Desert
"The desert tells a different story every time one ventures on it." — Robert Edison Fulton Jr.
"What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well." — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
"A desert is a place without expectation." — Nadine Gordimer
"The desert, when the sun comes up... I couldn't tell where heaven stopped and the Earth began." — Tom Hanks
"In the desert of the heart, let the healing fountain start." — W. H. Auden
"Desert, in the spiritual sense, is not a place to escape to, but a place to encounter." — Thomas Merton
"The desert is natural; when you are out there, you can get in tune with your environment, something you lose when you live in the city." — Robyn Davidson
"The desert does not mean the absence of men, it means the presence of God." — Carlo Carretto
"The desert wears… a veil of mystery. Motionless and silent it evokes in us an elusive presence." — Edward Abbey
"It is true that we are a small country, but our hearts are as vast as the desert." — Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Etymology
The word "desert" comes from the Latin word "desertus," which means "abandoned" or "solitary." This Latin word is related to the verb "deserere," which means "to abandon" or "to leave."
The first known use of "desert" in English was in the 14th century. At that time, the word meant "a lonely or uninhabited place." Over time, the meaning of the word shifted to refer to a dry, barren region with little or no vegetation.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Desert
Desert island: A remote, uninhabited island, often used metaphorically to describe a place of isolation or solitude.
Desert storm: A severe sandstorm or dust storm that occurs in desert regions.
Desert warfare: Military operations conducted in desert environments.
Desert bloom: A rare phenomenon where desert plants flower after a heavy rainfall.
To be deserted: To be left alone or abandoned.
To desert one's post: To abandon one's duties or responsibilities.
To be a desert islander: To be isolated or cut off from the world.
To be lost in the desert: To be confused or disoriented.
To be parched like a desert: To be very thirsty or dry.
To be a mirage in the desert: To be an illusion or something that appears to be real but isn't.
Note: While there are fewer common phrases and idioms directly using the word "desert," many related terms and concepts have their own phrases and idioms. These can be used to convey similar meanings or create metaphorical images.
Posts Related to Desert
Source Information
Definition of desert from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
