Definition Definition

desert - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'desert' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Desert [ a.]
- Of or pertaining to a desert; forsaken; without life or cultivation; unproductive; waste; barren; wild; desolate; solitary; as, they landed on a desert island.
2 . Desert [ n.]
- That which is deserved; the reward or the punishment justly due; claim to recompense, usually in a good sense; right to reward; merit.
- A deserted or forsaken region; a barren tract incapable of supporting population, as the vast sand plains of Asia and Africa are destitute and vegetation.
- A tract, which may be capable of sustaining a population, but has been left unoccupied and uncultivated; a wilderness; a solitary place.
3 . Desert [ v. i.]
- To abandon a service without leave; to quit military service without permission, before the expiration of one's term; to abscond.
4 . Desert [ v. t.]
- To leave (especially something which one should stay by and support); to leave in the lurch; to abandon; to forsake; -- implying blame, except sometimes when used of localities; as, to desert a friend, a principle, a cause, one's country.
- To abandon (the service) without leave; to forsake in violation of duty; to abscond from; as, to desert the army; to desert one's colors.

Meaning of 'desert' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . desert [ v]
Meaning (1):
- desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the opposing cause, country, or army
Example in sentence:
  • If soldiers deserted Hitler's army, they were shot
Meaning (2):
- leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
Example in sentence:
  • The mother deserted her children
Meaning (3):
- leave behind
Example in sentence:
  • the students deserted the campus after the end of exam period