dry
Pronunciation: (drī), [key] — adj., v., n., pl. dri•er, dri•est, dried, dry•ing, drys, dries.
—adj. - free from moisture or excess moisture; not moist; not wet: a dry towel; dry air.
- having or characterized by little or no rain: a dry climate; the dry season.
- characterized by absence, deficiency, or failure of natural or ordinary moisture.
- not under, in, or on water: It was good to be on dry land.
- not now containing or yielding water or other liquid; depleted or empty of liquid: The well is dry.
- not yielding milk: a dry cow.
- free from tears: dry eyes.
- drained or evaporated away: a dry river.
- desiring drink; thirsty: He was so dry he could hardly speak.
- causing thirst: dry work.
- served or eaten without butter, jam, etc.: dry toast.
- (of cooked food) lacking enough moisture or juice to be satisfying or succulent.
- (of bread and bakery products) stale.
- of or pertaining to nonliquid substances or commodities: dry measure; dry provisions.
- (of wines) not sweet.
- (of a cocktail) a dry Manhattan.
- made with dry vermouth:a dry Manhattan.
- made with relatively little dry vermouth:a dry martini.
- characterized by or favoring prohibition of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors for use in beverages: a dry state.
- (of British biscuits) not sweet.
- plain; bald; unadorned: dry facts.
- dull; uninteresting: a dry subject.
- expressed in a straight-faced, matter-of-fact way: dry humor.
- indifferent; cold; unemotional: a dry answer.
- unproductive: The greatest of artists have dry years.
- (of lumber) fully seasoned.
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- (of masonry construction) built without fresh mortar or cement.
- (of a wall, ceiling, etc., in an interior) finished without the use of fresh plaster.
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- unglazed.
- insufficiently glazed.
- hard and formal in outline, or lacking mellowness and warmth in color.
- immature; unsophisticated: Adult responsibilities were forced on him, although he was still not dry behind the ears.
—v.t. - to make dry; free from moisture: to dry the dishes.
—v.i. - to become dry; lose moisture.
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- to make or become completely dry.
- to undergo or cause to undergo detoxification from consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol.
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- to make or become completely dry.
- to cease to exist; evaporate.
- Informal.to stop talking.
- (in acting) to forget one's lines or part.
—n. - a prohibitionist.
- a dry place, area, or region.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.