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arid

adjective

Having little or no rain; extremely dry and lacking moisture

Etymology

Origin: arid (dry)

Root: ARID- — "be dry"

Example

"The arid example shows very dry with little rainfall."

Usage Notes

Arid is a formal, technical term primarily used in scientific and academic contexts to describe climates, regions, or conditions with extremely low precipitation. While 'dry' is general, 'arid' specifically refers to environmental conditions and carries stronger connotations of desolation and inhospitability. It differs from 'barren' by focusing on moisture absence rather than fertility.

Word Relationships

Synonyms

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