Topic: NATURE
 |
| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | dryge |
| |||||||||
dry1 S2 W2
comparative drier, superlative driest
comparative drier, superlative driest1 without water or liquid inside or on the surface [≠ wet]: Make sure that the surface is clean and dry before you start to paint. You should store disks in a cool, dry place.
not wet
Make sure that the surface is clean and dry before you start to paint.You should store disks in a cool, dry place.2 having very little rain or moisture [≠ wet; ↪ arid]: The weather was hot and dry. Eastern areas should stay dry tomorrow.
weather
DNThe weather was hot and dry.Eastern areas should stay dry tomorrow.3 without enough of the liquid or oil that is normally in your mouth, skin etc [↪ parched]: His heart was pounding and his mouth was dry. Mary has dry, sensitive skin. a shampoo for dry hair She licked her dry lips.
dry mouth/skin/lips/hair etc
HBHHis heart was pounding and his mouth was dry.Mary has dry, sensitive skin.a shampoo for dry hairShe licked her dry lips.4 if a lake, river etc runs dry, all the water gradually disappears, especially because there has been no rain : The river ran dry last summer.
run/go dry
DNThe river ran dry last summer.5 someone with a dry sense of humour says funny and clever things while seeming to be serious : He had a delightfully dry sense of humour.
humour
He had a delightfully dry sense of humour.6 boring, very serious, and without humour : In schools, science is often presented in a dry and uninteresting manner. a dry debate on policies
boring
In schools, science is often presented in a dry and uninteresting manner.a dry debate on policies9 not drinking alcohol, or not allowing any alcohol to be sold : Paula had been dry for a year before she started drinking again. Kuwait's a dry country.
without alcohol
DFDPaula had been dry for a year before she started drinking again.Kuwait's a dry country.10 showing no emotion when you speak : 'Good evening gentlemen,' he said, in a dry voice.
voice
'Good evening gentlemen,' he said, in a dry voice.11 bread etc eaten on its own without anything such as butter or jam spread on it
dry bread/toast
DFF12 thirsty
thirsty
informal13 used to say that everyone was crying because something was very sad - often used humorously
not a dry eye in the house
—dryness noun [uncountable]
➔ drip-dry, dry rot; ➔ home and dry
at home2 (6); ➔ leave somebody high and dry
at high2 (5), drylyWORD FOCUS: weatherWORD FOCUS: weather good weather: sunny/fine used to describe weather or a day when there is a lot of sunshine
nice/lovely/glorious very sunny and good
bright if the weather is bright, the sun shines strongly
there isn't a cloud in the sky the sky is completely clear
dry if the weather is dry, it does not rain
fair sunny and not windy or rainy - used especially in weather forecasts
rain: wet/rainy/damp used to describe weather or a day when there is a lot of rain
unsettled if the weather is unsettled, it keeps changing and it often rains
drizzle light rain which consists of very small drops of water
shower a short period of rain
downpour a short period when it suddenly rains very heavily
it's pouring down British English/it's pouring rain American English it is raining very hard
it's drizzling it is raining a little, with very small drops of rain
snow: snowy used to describe weather or a day when there is a lot of snow
sleet a mixture of snow and rain
slush a mixture of partly melted snow and ice
hail/hailstones frozen drops of rain, that fall as drops of ice
blizzard a storm with a lot of snow and strong wind
frost white powder that covers the ground when it is cold
wind: windy used to describe a day or weather when there is a lot of wind
blustery very windy
breeze a gentle pleasant wind
hurricane (in the Atlantic Ocean) /typhoon (in the Pacific Ocean) a violent storm with extremely strong winds
cloudy: cloudy used to describe weather or a day when there are a lot of clouds in the sky
grey/dull cloudy and not bright
overcast if the sky is overcast, it is very cloudy and dark, and it is likely to rain
hazy not clear, especially because there is a slight mist caused by heat or smoke
hot: boiling/scorching/sizzling/blazing/burning/baking/broiling (hot) extremely hot
sweltering very hot and humid
warm a little hot, in a way that is pleasant
balmy pleasantly warm, with a gentle wind blowing
heatwave a period of unusually hot weather
cold: freezing (cold) extremely cold
arctic extremely cold, usually with a lot of ice and snow
wintry cold and snowy or rainy, like the weather in winter
crisp if the air is crisp, it feels cold but pleasantly fresh and clear
chilly a little too cold, in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable
cool a little cold, in a way that is pleasant
cold snap/cold spell a period of unusually cold weather
➔ See also weather
