Topic: ARMY
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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | French |
| Origin: | déserter, from Latin desertus; DESERT1 |
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de‧sert2
1 [transitive] to leave someone or something and no longer help or support them [= abandon]: Helen was deserted by her husband. Many of the party's traditional voters deserted it at the last election. The price rise caused many readers to desert the magazine.
Helen was deserted by her husband.Many of the party's traditional voters deserted it at the last election.The price rise caused many readers to desert the magazine.2 [transitive] to leave a place so that it is completely empty [= abandon]: The birds have deserted their nest.
The birds have deserted their nest.3 [intransitive]PMA to leave the army, navy etc without permission : Several hundred soldiers have deserted.
Several hundred soldiers have deserted.4 [transitive] if a feeling, quality, or skill deserts you, you no longer have it, especially at a time when you need it : Mike's confidence seemed to have deserted him.
Mike's confidence seemed to have deserted him.WORD FOCUS: army WORD FOCUS: army
similar words: armed forces, the military, the services
people in the army: soldier, troops, infantry, G.I. AmE old-fashioned, squaddy British English
to join the army: join up/enlist
to leave the army: be discharged, desert (without permission)
go A.W.O.L. (without permission)
to make people serve in the armed forces: call up British English/draft American English
the system of making people serve in the armed forces: conscription, military service, the draft American English, national service British English
relating to the armed forces: militaryarmy
➔ See also army
WORD FOCUS: army similar words: armed forces, the military, the services
people in the army: soldier, troops, infantry, G.I. AmE old-fashioned, squaddy British English
to join the army: join up/enlist
to leave the army: be discharged, desert (without permission)
go A.W.O.L. (without permission)
to make people serve in the armed forces: call up British English/draft American English
the system of making people serve in the armed forces: conscription, military service, the draft American English, national service British English
relating to the armed forces: militaryarmy
➔ See also army
