Skip to content
Word a Day by Lyravant

Word a Day

desert

verb · Level 1 · Starter

What does desert mean?

desert (verb): leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch.

Definition: Princeton WordNet 3.1.

Where does desert come from?

Borrowed from French déserter, from Late Latin dēsertō, from Latin dēsertus, from dēserō (“abandon”).

Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Words related to desert

From Princeton WordNet 3.1.

Test yourself: do you know “desert”?

Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.

What does “desert” mean?

to have permanent residence somewhere, to inhabit, to reside

Not quite: that's what live means.

to ponder; to feel doubt and curiosity; to query in the mind

Not quite: that's what wonder means.

to keep safe; to defend; to guard; to prevent harm coming to

Not quite: that's what protect means.

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

Right! That's what “desert” means.

Learn a word like “desert” every day

Word a Day for iPhone quizzes you on a few new words a day and brings each one back for review at growing intervals. Free, no account, no ads.

Coming soon to the App Store