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desiccant

desiccant

1 8.2
A substance that absorbs moisture to keep things dry
  • noun
  • /ˈdɛsɪkənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : deshidratante
  • You can also buy other desiccants like Drierite and use it in the same way.
  • silica desiccant

Examples

  • Finally, sunflower growers can reduce the plants' exposure time to foraging blackbirds by using a chemical desiccant to allow earlier harvesting.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Another one I found is the Dry-All Wet Emergency Kit that again just uses a type of desiccant.

    Blog text (9)
  • There are two desiccant holders in the AMS which are meant to keep your stuff dry.

  • The University of Maryland might already be close, with their Liquid Desiccant Waterfall.

    Blog text (26)
  • This desiccant dehumidifier can provide year-round consistent humidity levels.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Paraquat and sodium chloride were the only desiccants available for many years.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Desiccant dehumidifiers, using silica gel or lithium chloride, could be employed as an adjunct to disinfection to reduce RH to as low a level as possible (8).

    Academic text (1994)
  • The technician placed a desiccant packet inside the camera bag to protect the equipment from moisture.

  • To prevent mold, the food storage container includes a desiccant that absorbs excess humidity.

  • When packing electronics for shipping, it's important to include a desiccant to keep them dry during transit.

Synonyms

drier
vsdesiccant
  • Specialized
23 7.5

A material that removes moisture from things or the air

aims to keep areas or goods dry rather than speed the process
drying agent
vsdesiccant
  • Specialized
4.5

A material like silica gel that takes water from other things to make them dry

focuses on direct absorption to keep spaces or products dry
siccative
vsdesiccant
  • Specialized
9.9

A substance that helps things dry faster, for example paint

works by absorbing moisture rather than by aiding evaporation

Antonyms

10 4.0

A machine that adds water to the air to make it less dry

retention
  • Specialized
9 4.8

Ability of a material like cloth or soil to hold liquid

How Absorbent

desiccant
  • Specialized
1 8.2
soaker
  • US
3 3.4

Surface Forms

desiccant singular
desiccants plural

Morphology

desiccant = desiccate (semi-transparent) = desiccate + ant

Formed regularly from the verb 'desiccate' with the agent/adjectival suffix '-ant'; the relation is clear but relies on a formal verb that may be unfamiliar to B1 learners.

Etymology

The word desiccant comes from the Latin desiccare, made from de- meaning 'completely' and siccare meaning 'to dry'. So a desiccant is something that makes things 'dry' by taking away moisture.