thelernen logothelernen
Start

Definition and meaning of English word "desert"

desert

/ˈdɛzərt/

Meaning

Noun

A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with little water or vegetation; a wasteland. In particular, a barren, arid area of land which is hot, with sandy, rocky, or parched ground.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to use

The word 'desert' is often used to describe a dry and often sandy region with little vegetation. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a place or situation that is barren or uninhabited. A common learner mistake is confusing 'desert' with 'dessert', which refers to a sweet course in a meal.

🇬🇧 English

desert

Example

I cross desert.

He is in desert.

Your personal vocabulary

🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversation

Synonyms

a barren or uninhabited regiona wild and uninhabited regionunable to produce vegetation

Common phrases

  • desert island— a island that is uninhabited
  • desert landscape— a landscape that is characteristic of a desert
  • cross the desert— to travel through a desert

More Nature words

Frequency rank: #492 in English

🦊

Learn them all! 🚀

Master the 1000 most common English words with smart explanations, audio pronunciation, and spaced repetition.

Start Learning For Free →

No sign-up required

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the English word "desert" mean?▼

The English word "desert" means "desert" in English.

How do you pronounce the English word "desert"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "desert" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "desert"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "I cross desert." (which translates as "desert").

Related reading