Definition of dry
drier
also dryer
play
\ˈdrī(-ə)r\;
driest
also dryest
play
\ˈdrī-əst\
1 a
: free or relatively free from a liquid and especially water
- Mix the dry indgredients first.
- as dry as a bone
b
: not being in or under water
- happy to be on dry land
c
meteorology
: lacking precipitation or humidity
- a dry climate
2 a
: characterized by exhaustion of a supply of liquid
- a dry well
b
geology
: devoid of running water
- a dry ravine
c
: devoid of natural moisture
- My throat was dry.
- dry leaves
d
: no longer sticky or damp
- The paint isn't dry yet.
e
: not giving milk
- a dry cow
f
: lacking freshness : stale
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
- —William 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
alcohol
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
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
- a dry lecturer
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
14
: marked by matter-of-fact, ironic, or terse manner of expression
- a dry wit
- has a very dry sense of humor
15
: lacking smooth sound qualities
- a dry rasping voice
16
: being a dry run
- a dry rehearsal
