desiccation

UK: /ˌdɛsɪˈkeɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌdɛsɪˈkeɪʃən/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

des•ic•cate /ˈdɛsɪˌkeɪt/   v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to (cause to) become thoroughly dry or to dry up: [no obj]:
   The plants desiccated during the drought.
   [ ~ + obj]:
   The hot sun desiccated the plants.
2. Nutrition, Food to preserve (food) by removing moisture; dehydrate:
   desiccated foods.

des•ic•ca•tion /ˌdɛsɪˈkeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

des•ic•cate  (des′i kāt′), v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to dry thoroughly;
   dry up.
2. Nutrition, Food to preserve (food) by removing moisture;
   dehydrate.

v.i. 

3. to become thoroughly dried or dried up.

• Latin dēsiccātus dried up, past participle of dēsiccāre, equivalent. to dē- de- + siccāre, derivative of siccus dry; see -ate¹
• 1565–75

des′ic•ca′tion, n. 
des′ic•ca′tive, adj.