Environment / B1

DEZ-uh-t/ˈdezət/

A desert is a large area of very dry land, often sand or rock, with little rain: the Sahara Desert; a desert climate. Dessert (two s letters, /dɪˈzɜːt/) is the sweet course at the end of a meal — a classic spelling trap. The verb desert /dɪˈzɜːt/ means abandon, which is a different word. Arid is a more technical adjective for dry land. In the desert, not “on the desert” for the region.

Meaning

A large area of very dry land, often with sand and almost no rain.

Examples

• “Camels can travel across the desert for days.”
• “Few plants can survive in the desert.”
• “They crossed the desert at night to avoid the heat.”

Good to know

a desert = dry land. Sweet course: dessert (two s). Verb desert = abandon (different stress). in the desert.

Near in meaning

wilderness

Topics

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