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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

desert

/ˈdɛz.ɚt/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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What does desert mean?

noun

  1. A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with little water or vegetation; a wasteland.
  2. In particular, a barren, arid area of land which is hot, with sandy, rocky, or parched ground.
  3. (figuratively) Any barren place or situation.
More meanings (5)

adjective

  1. Usually of a place: abandoned, deserted, or uninhabited.

verb

  1. To leave (anything that depends on one's presence to survive, exist, or succeed), especially when contrary to a promise or obligation; to abandon; to forsake.
  2. To leave one's duty or post, especially to leave a military or naval unit without permission.

noun

  1. That which is deserved or merited; a just punishment or reward.
  2. (obsolete) Obsolete form of dessert.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈdɛz.ɚt/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Other dictionary pronunciations

/dɪˈzɝt//dəˈzɝt/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

Until late in the afternoon the Jungfrau’s aspect is that of a spotless desert of snow set upon edge against the sky.
Mark TwainWhat Is Man? and Other EssaysProject Gutenberg ebook #70
Ay, my good lord, I know the gentleman To be of worth and worthy estimation, And not without desert so well reputed.
William ShakespeareThe Complete Works of William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg ebook #100
More book examples (3)
Two days after he had left the posse, and when he was already far out in the desert, Marcus's horse gave out.
Frank NorrisMcTeague: A Story of San FranciscoProject Gutenberg ebook #165
The really diligent student in one of the crowded hives of Cambridge College is as solitary as a dervish in the desert.
Henry David ThoreauWalden, and On The Duty Of Civil DisobedienceProject Gutenberg ebook #205
Gaza is upon the verge of the Desert, to which it stands in the same relation as a seaport to the sea.
Alexander William KinglakeEothen; Or, Traces of Travel Brought Home from the EastProject Gutenberg ebook #282