First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1dry
adjective \ˈdrī\
: having no or very little water or liquid
: no longer wet
: having no rain or little rain
dri·er also dry·er \ˈdrī(-ə)r\ dri·est also dry·est \ˈdrī-əst\
Full Definition of DRY
1
a : free or relatively free from a liquid and especially water b : not being in or under water c : lacking precipitation or humidity
2
3
a : marked by the absence or scantiness of secretions <a dry cough> b : not shedding or accompanied by tears <a dry sob>
4
obsolete : involving no bloodshed or drowning <I would fain die a dry death — Shakespeare>
5
a : marked by the absence of alcoholic beverages <a dry party> b : prohibiting the manufacture or distribution of alcoholic beverages <a dry county>
6
: served or eaten without butter or margarine <dry toast>
7
a : lacking sweetness : sec <dry champagne> b : having all or most sugar fermented to alcohol <a dry wine> <dry beer>
8
a : solid as opposed to liquid <dry groceries> b : reduced to powder or flakes : dehydrated <dry milk>
9
: functioning without lubrication <a dry clutch>
10
of natural gas : containing no recoverable hydrocarbon (as gasoline)
11
: requiring no liquid in preparation or operation <a dry photocopying process>
12
a : not showing or communicating warmth, enthusiasm, or tender feeling : severe <a dry style of painting> b : wearisome, uninteresting <dry passages of description> c : lacking embellishment : plain
13
a : not yielding what is expected or desired : unproductive <a writer going through a dry spell> b : having no personal bias or emotional concern <the dry light of reason> c : reserved, aloof
14
: marked by matter-of-fact, ironic, or terse manner of expression <a dry wit>
15
: lacking smooth sound qualities <a dry rasping voice>
16
: being a dry run <a dry rehearsal>
— dry·ish \ˈdrī-ish\ adjective
— dri·ly or dry·ly adverb
— dry·ness noun
See dry defined for English-language learners
See dry defined for kids
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Origin of DRY
Middle English, from Old English drȳge; akin to Old High German truckan dry, Old English drēahnian to drain
Related to DRY
2dry
verb
: to remove water or moisture from (something or someone) : to make (something or someone) dry
: to make plates, dishes, pots, etc., dry by rubbing them with a towel
: to become dry
drieddry·ing
Full Definition of DRY
transitive verb
: to make dry
intransitive verb
: to become dry
— dry·able \ˈdrī-ə-bəl\ adjective
See dry defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DRY
before 12th century
3dry
noun
plural drys
Definition of DRY
1
: the condition of being dry : dryness
2
: something dry; especially : a dry place
3
First Known Use of DRY
13th century
DRY Defined for Kids
1dry
adjective \ˈdrī\
dri·erdri·est
Definition of DRY for Kids
1
: not wet or moist <Are the clothes dry?>
2
: having little or no rain <a dry climate>
3
: not being in or under water <dry land>
4
: having little natural moisture <a dry throat>
5
: no longer liquid or sticky <The paint is dry.>
6
: containing no liquid <a dry creek>
7
: not giving milk <a dry cow>
8
: not producing desired results <a dry spell>
9
: not producing a wet substance from the body <a dry cough> <dry sobs>
10
: funny but expressed in a serious way <He has a dry sense of humor.>
11
: uninteresting <a dry lecture>
12
: not sweet <dry wines>
— dry·ly or dri·ly adverb
— dry·ness noun
2dry
verb
drieddry·ing
Definition of DRY for Kids
: to remove or lose any moisture <Help me dry the dishes.>
Learn More About DRY
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Seen & Heard
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