desert
Meaning: A dry, barren region with little rainfall; to abandon or leave
Desert as a noun (DEZ-ert) refers to a dry, sandy region with very little rainfall, like the Sahara. As a verb (di-ZERT), it means to abandon someone or something, or to leave military service without permission. A 'deserted' place is empty or abandoned.
Examples
- The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world. 撒哈拉是世界上最大的热带沙漠。El Sahara es el desierto caliente más grande del mundo.サハラは世界最大の暑い砂漠です。사하라는 세계에서 가장 큰 더운 사막입니다.
- He deserted his family and moved abroad. 他抛弃了家人移居国外。Él abandonó a su familia y se mudó al extranjero.彼は家族を捨てて海外に移住しました。그는 가족을 버리고 해외로 이주했습니다.
- The streets were completely deserted at that hour. 那个时候街道完全空无一人。Las calles estaban completamente desiertas a esa hora.その時間、通りは完全に人気がありませんでした。그 시간에 거리는 완전히 텅 비어 있었습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
Two distinct Latin origins: (1) 'desertum' meaning 'thing abandoned', from 'deserere' (to forsake, abandon) — giving both the noun (wasteland) and the verb (to abandon); (2) not related to 'dessert', which comes from 'desservir' (to clear the table).
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Story & Trivia
Don't confuse 'desert' (DEZ-ert, a dry place, or di-ZERT, to abandon) with 'dessert' (di-ZERT, the sweet course after a meal). A helpful memory trick: dessert has two S's because you always want seconds!
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