(drier, or dryer, driest, dries, drying, dried)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If something is dry, there is no water or moisture on it or in it.
Clean the metal with a soft dry cloth...
Pat it dry with a soft towel...
Once the paint is dry, apply a coat of the red ochre emulsion paint...
? wet, damp
ADJ
• dryness
...the parched dryness of the air.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
When something dries or when you dry it, it becomes dry.
Leave your hair to dry naturally whenever possible...
Wash and dry the lettuce...
VERB: V, V n
3.
When you dry the dishes after a meal, you wipe the water off the plates, cups, knives, pans, and other things when they have been washed, using a cloth.
Mrs. Madrigal began drying dishes.
= wipe
VERB: V n
•
Dry up means the same as
dry. (
BRIT)
He got up and stood beside Julie, drying up the dishes while she washed.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron)
4.
If you say that your skin or hair is dry, you mean that it is less oily than, or not as soft as, normal.
Nothing looks worse than dry, cracked lips...
? greasy
ADJ
• dryness
Dryness of the skin can also be caused by living in centrally heated homes and offices.
N-UNCOUNT
5.
If the weather or a period of time is dry, there is no rain or there is much less rain than average.
Exceptionally dry weather over the past year had cut agricultural production...
? wet
ADJ
6.
A dry place or climate is one that gets very little rainfall.
...a hot, dry climate where the sun is shining all the time.
= arid
? wet
ADJ: usu ADJ n
• dryness
He was advised to spend time in the warmth and dryness of Italy.
N-UNCOUNT
7.
In the dry means in a place or at a time that is not damp, wet, or rainy. (mainly BRIT)
Such cars, however, do grip the road well, even in the dry.
? wet
N-SING: the N, usu in N
8.
If a river, lake, or well is dry, it is empty of water, usually because of hot weather and lack of rain.
ADJ
9.
If an oil well is dry, it is no longer producing any oil.
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ
10.
If your mouth or throat is dry, it has little or no saliva in it, and so feels very unpleasant, perhaps because you are tense or ill.
His mouth was dry, he needed a drink...
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ
• dryness
Symptoms included frequent dryness in the mouth.
N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp
11.
If someone has dry eyes, there are no tears in their eyes; often used with negatives or in contexts where you are expressing surprise that they are not crying.
There were few dry eyes in the house when I finished...
? moist
ADJ
12.
If a country, state, or city is dry, it has laws or rules which forbid anyone to drink, sell, or buy alcoholic drink. (INFORMAL)
Gujurat has been a totally dry state for the past thirty years.
= teetotal
ADJ
13.
If you say that someone is sucking something dry or milking it dry, you are criticizing them for taking all the good things from it until there is nothing left.
He's just milking the company dry.
ADJ: v n ADJ [disapproval]
14.
Dry humour is very amusing, but in a subtle and clever way.
Fulton has retained his dry humour...
ADJ: usu ADJ n [approval]
• drily
'That is surprising.'-'Hardly,' I said drily.
ADV: ADV with v, ADV adj
• dryness
Her writing has a wry dryness.
N-UNCOUNT
15.
If you describe something such as a book, play, or activity as dry, you mean that it is dull and uninteresting.
...dry, academic phrases.
ADJ [disapproval]
16.
Dry bread or toast is plain and not covered with butter or jam.
For breakfast, they had dry bread and tea.
ADJ: ADJ n
17.
Dry sherry or wine does not have a sweet taste.
...a glass of chilled, dry white wine.
? sweet
ADJ
18.