dry

I UK [draɪ] / US adjective
Word forms "dry":
adjective dry comparative dryer superlative dryest
***

1)

a) something that is dry has no water in it or on it

Is the grass dry enough to cut?

Vegetables should be stored in a cool dry place.

wipe/towel/pat something dry:

Wash the lettuce and pat it dry.

b) used about a liquid such as paint when it has become hard or solid

Someone walked on the concrete before it was dry.

2) dry weather is when there is no rain

The weather is usually dry and sunny at this time of year.

a) used about periods of time

Tomorrow will be mostly dry.

b) used about regions

warm dry places like southern Spain

3) dry hair or skin feels rough because it does not have enough moisture in it

4) dry food contains little or no liquid, such as fat or juice

The chicken was overcooked and dry.

All they gave me was some dry bread (= with no butter or anything else on it).

5) dry humour involves saying funny things in a serious way

6) very serious and boring

The style was too dry for a children's book.

7)

a) feeling thirsty

Can I have a drink? I'm really dry.

b) if your mouth is dry, it contains very little saliva, for example because you are nervous

8) dry alcoholic drinks are not sweet

dry white wine

9) a child that is dry does not need to wear a nappy because they can control when they urinate

10) a dry country does not allow any alcohol to be sold there

•

not a dry eye (in the house) — spoken used for saying that something makes everyone in a place feel strong emotion

- as dry as a bone

- dry cough

Derived word:
dryness
noun uncountable
II UK [draɪ] / US verb
Word forms "dry":
present tense I/you/we/they dry he/she/it dries present participle drying past tense dried past participle dried
**

1) [transitive] to remove the water from something by wiping it, heating it, or blowing air onto it

We washed and dried all the sheets.

Dry your hands on this towel.

a) [intransitive] to become dry

I usually let my hair dry naturally.

b) dry or dry up

[intransitive/transitive] to wipe the water off dishes after they have been washed

Whose turn is it to dry?

2) [transitive, usually passive] to remove the water from food or plants as a way of preserving them

dried fruit/herbs/flowers

3) [intransitive] if a liquid such as paint dries, it becomes hard or solid

Leave the varnish to dry overnight.

4) [intransitive] to stop talking because you have forgotten what you were going to say

•

- dry your eyes

Phrasal verbs:

- dry off

- dry out

- dry up

See:

cut and dried