First Known Use: 1652
Dictionary
arid
adjective ar·id \ˈa-rəd, ˈer-əd\
: very dry : having very little rain or water
: lacking in interest and life
Full Definition of ARID
1
: excessively dry; specifically : having insufficient rainfall to support agriculture
2
: lacking in interest and life : jejune
— arid·i·ty \ə-ˈri-də-tē, a-\ noun
— ar·id·ness \ˈa-rəd-nəs, ˈer-əd-\ noun
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Origin of ARID
French or Latin; French aride, from Latin aridus, from arēre to be dry; akin to Sanskrit āsa ash, Old English asce
Related to ARID
- Synonyms
- boring, colorless, drab, dreary, drudging, dry, dull, dusty, flat, heavy, ho-hum, humdrum, jading, jejune, leaden, mind-numbing, monochromatic, monotonous, numbing, old, pedestrian, ponderous, slow, stale, stodgy, stuffy, stupid, tame, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, weary, wearying
- Antonyms
- absorbing, engaging, engrossing, gripping, interesting, intriguing, involving, riveting
Other Ecology Terms
ARIDITY Defined for Kids
arid
adjective ar·id \ˈer-əd\
Definition of ARID for Kids
: not having enough rainfall to support agriculture
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