Arid

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈæɹ.ɪd/

Definitions

1. Describing a climate or region that is extremely dry and receives very little rainfall
2. Characterizing a landscape that is notably lacking in moisture and has an insufficient amount of precipitation for vegetation to thrive
3. Pertaining to an environment that exhibits severe dryness with minimal annual rainfall, often leading to barren conditions

Etymology: "Arid" comes from a Latin verb about burning. "Āreō" meant "to be dry, to be parched," and it was closely related to "ārdeō," meaning "to be on fire, to burn." The two verbs share a root, so the idea of dryness and the idea of heat were tied together from the start: a parched landscape is one that has been scorched. From "āreō" Latin formed the adjective "āridus," meaning "dry, arid, parched." A shorter, contracted variant, "ardus," existed alongside it. English took the word via French "aride" or straight from Latin "āridus," so the French and Latin routes both lead to the same place. The word has stayed close to its original meaning of simple, literal dryness, without the figurative shifts that many English words have undergone.

Synonyms: dry, parched, desiccated, barren, sterile

Antonyms: humid, moist, wet, damp, lush