desert
desert
Pronunciation
desert
/ˈdɛz.ərt/ (noun, referring to an arid region)
ˈdɛz: /d/, /ɛ/, /z/
ərt: /ə/, /r/, /t/
/dɪˈzɜːrt/ (verb, meaning to abandon or leave)
dɪ: /d/, /ɪ/
ˈzɜːrt: /z/, /ɜː/, /r/, /t/
Word Form Variations
The word "desert" has variations depending on whether it is used as a noun or a verb.
Noun (referring to an arid region):
Singular: desert
Plural: deserts
Verb (meaning to abandon or leave):
Base Form: desert
Third-person singular present: deserts
Present participle: deserting
Past tense: deserted
Past participle: deserted
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A large, extremely dry area of land with sparse vegetation, typically characterized by sand or rocks and very little rainfall.
Synonyms: wasteland, arid region, wilderness, barren land
Antonyms: oasis, fertile land, rainforest, wetland
Verb
To abandon a person, place, or thing, often leaving them without support or help; to forsake.
Synonyms: abandon, forsake, ditch (informal), leave,
Antonyms: support, stay with, remain, help, stand by
To leave a military service without permission; to abscond from duty.
Synonyms: defect, abscond, go AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave), flee
Antonyms: enlist, rejoin, serve, report for duty
Examples of Use
Noun (arid region)
Books: "The desert stretched endlessly, a sea of sand under a relentless sun, a backdrop for the lone wanderer's journey." (From "Dune" by Frank Herbert, October 1965)
Newspapers: "Rising temperatures are expanding the world's deserts, threatening livelihoods and biodiversity." (The Guardian)
Online Publications: "Scientists are studying ancient water systems in the Atacama Desert to understand past climates." (National Geographic online)
Entertainment (Film): The desolate landscapes of the Mojave Desert served as a key filming location for the post-apocalyptic film.
General Public Discourse: "I can't imagine living in a place where it's so hot and dry; it's practically a desert out there."
Verb (to abandon/forsake)
Books: "He felt a pang of guilt for having deserted his post, but the urge to find his family was stronger." (From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, September 2006)
Newspapers: "The company's leadership was accused of deserting their employees during the financial crisis." (The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications: "Many artists desert traditional painting techniques in favor of digital art forms." (Artnet News)
Entertainment (Music): A song lyrics lament, "Don't desert me now, when I need you the most."
General Public Discourse: "After the argument, she felt like her friends had deserted her when she needed their support."
10 Quotes Using Desert
"The desert takes our sweat, our blood, and our tears. In return, it gives us peace." (Edward Abbey)
"The desert is a spiritual experience. I don't see the desert as a place of desolation, but a place of purification." (Paulo Coelho)
"What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
"You cannot fight the desert; you have to be part of it." (Marlon Brando)
"A man can be happy with any woman, as long as he does not love her. He can be happy in any place, as long as he does not desert it." (Oscar Wilde)
"When you're out in the desert, you feel like you're in a sacred place." (Willie Nelson)
"I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
"It's a lonely road, and sometimes you feel like you're in the desert." (Maya Angelou)
"Don't desert your own ship because you see a storm coming." (Chinese Proverb)
"The desert is not a place, it's a feeling." (Unknown)
Etymology
The word "desert" has a fascinating journey through language!
It comes from the Latin word "deserere," which meant "to abandon, forsake, leave." This Latin verb is made up of two parts:
"de-" meaning "away from" or "completely"
"serere" meaning "to join" or "to link"
So, "deserere" literally meant "to un-join" or "to disconnect completely."
Now, how did we get from "abandon" to a dry, sandy place?
When something is "abandoned" or "forsaken," it's often left empty, desolate, or unused. This idea of emptiness and desolation is key.
First known use as a verb (meaning to abandon): In English, the verb form of "desert" appeared first, around the late 13th century. It carried the meaning of "to leave, forsake, or abandon." Think of someone "deserting" their duty or their friends.
First known use as a noun (meaning an arid region): The noun form, referring to a "wilderness, a desolate and uninhabited region," emerged a bit later, in the early 14th century. It came from the Old French word "désert," which itself came from the Latin "desertum" (a past participle of "deserere"), meaning "something left waste or abandoned."
So, essentially, the "desert" as a dry, empty place got its name because it was seen as a land that was "abandoned" or "forsaken" by humans, or by regular vegetation and water, making it barren and desolate. Both meanings ultimately stem from the core idea of something being left, empty, or un-joined.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Desert
Desert island: A remote, uninhabited island, often used in the context of being stranded.
Just deserts: A punishment or reward that someone deserves; what is justly due to them.
Desert rat: An informal term for a person who lives in or is very familiar with the desert.
To desert a sinking ship: To abandon a failing enterprise or situation, especially when others are still involved.
To desert one's post: To leave one's assigned position or duty without permission.
Desert bloom: The sudden flowering of plants in a desert after rain, symbolizing unexpected beauty or hope in harsh conditions.
A voice crying in the desert/wilderness: Someone expressing an opinion or warning that is ignored or goes unheard by the majority.
To wander in the desert: To go through a period of aimlessness, hardship, or spiritual searching.
Lost in the desert (idiom using synonym): Feeling completely disoriented or overwhelmed, like being lost in a vast, empty space.
A barren landscape (idiom using synonym): A situation or environment devoid of interest, creativity, or productivity.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of desert from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
