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70 definitions found

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary : [ easton ]


  Desert
     (1.) Heb. midbar, "pasture-ground;" an open tract for pasturage;
     a common (Joel 2:22). The "backside of the desert" (Ex. 3:1) is
     the west of the desert, the region behind a man, as the east is
     the region in front. The same Hebrew word is rendered
     "wildernes," and is used of the country lying between Egypt and
     Palestine (Gen. 21:14, 21; Ex. 4:27; 19:2; Josh. 1:4), the
     wilderness of the wanderings. It was a grazing tract, where the
     flocks and herds of the Israelites found pasturage during the
     whole of their journey to the Promised Land.
     
       The same Hebrew word is used also to denote the wilderness of
     Arabia, which in winter and early spring supplies good pasturage
     to the flocks of the nomad tribes than roam over it (1 Kings
     9:18).
     
       The wilderness of Judah is the mountainous region along the
     western shore of the Dead Sea, where David fed his father's
     flocks (1 Sam. 17:28; 26:2). Thus in both of these instances the
     word denotes a country without settled inhabitants and without
     streams of water, but having good pasturage for cattle; a
     country of wandering tribes, as distinguished from that of a
     settled people (Isa. 35:1; 50:2; Jer. 4:11). Such, also, is the
     meaning of the word "wilderness" in Matt. 3:3; 15:33; Luke 15:4.
     
       (2.) The translation of the Hebrew _Aribah'_, "an arid tract"
     (Isa. 35:1, 6; 40:3; 41:19; 51:3, etc.). The name Arabah is
     specially applied to the deep valley of the Jordan (the Ghor of
     the Arabs), which extends from the lake of Tiberias to the
     Elanitic gulf. While _midbar_ denotes properly a pastoral
     region, _arabah_ denotes a wilderness. It is also translated
     "plains;" as "the plains of Jericho" (Josh. 5:10; 2 Kings 25:5),
     "the plains of Moab" (Num. 22:1; Deut. 34:1, 8), "the plains of
     the wilderness" (2 Sam. 17:16).
     
       (3.) In the Revised Version of Num. 21:20 the Hebrew word
     _jeshimon_ is properly rendered "desert," meaning the waste
     tracts on both shores of the Dead Sea. This word is also
     rendered "desert" in Ps. 78:40; 106:14; Isa. 43:19, 20. It
     denotes a greater extent of uncultivated country than the other
     words so rendered. It is especially applied to the desert of the
     peninsula of Arabia (Num. 21:20; 23:28), the most terrible of
     all the deserts with which the Israelites were acquainted. It is
     called "the desert" in Ex. 23:31; Deut. 11:24. (See JESHIMON.)
     
       (4.) A dry place; hence a desolation (Ps. 9:6), desolate (Lev.
     26:34); the rendering of the Hebrew word _horbah'_. It is
     rendered "desert" only in Ps. 102:6, Isa. 48:21, and Ezek. 13:4,
     where it means the wilderness of Sinai.
     
       (5.) This word is the symbol of the Jewish church when they
     had forsaken God (Isa. 40:3). Nations destitute of the knowledge
     of God are called a "wilderness" (32:15, _midbar_). It is a
     symbol of temptation, solitude, and persecution (Isa. 27:10,
     _midbar_; 33:9, _arabah_).

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Desert \De*sert"\ (d[-e]*z[~e]rt"), n. [OF. deserte, desserte,
     merit, recompense, fr. deservir, desservir, to merit. See
     Deserve.]
     That which is deserved; the reward or the punishment justly
     due; claim to recompense, usually in a good sense; right to
     reward; merit.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           According to their deserts will I judge them. --Ezek.
                                                    vii. 27.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Andronicus, surnamed Pius
           For many good and great deserts to Rome. --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           His reputation falls far below his desert. --A.
                                                    Hamilton.
  
     Syn: Merit; worth; excellence; due.
          [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Desert \Des"ert\ (d[e^]z"[~e]rt), n. [F. d['e]sert, L. desertum,
     from desertus solitary, desert, pp. of deserere to desert;
     de- + serere to join together. See Series.]
     1. A deserted or forsaken region; a barren tract incapable of
        supporting population, as the vast sand plains of Asia and
        Africa which are destitute of moisture and vegetation.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              A dreary desert and a gloomy waste.   --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A tract, which may be capable of sustaining a population,
        but has been left unoccupied and uncultivated; a
        wilderness; a solitary place.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her
              desert like the garden of the Lord.   --Is. li. 3.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Also figuratively.
           [1913 Webster]
  
                 Before her extended
                 Dreary and vast and silent, the desert of life.
                                                    --Longfellow.
           [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Desert \Des"ert\, a. [Cf. L. desertus, p. p. of deserere, and F.
     d['e]sert. See 2d Desert.]
     Of or pertaining to a desert; forsaken; without life or
     cultivation; unproductive; waste; barren; wild; desolate;
     solitary; as, they landed on a desert island.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           He . . . went aside privately into a desert place.
                                                    --Luke ix. 10.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
           And waste its sweetness on the desert air. --Gray.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Desert flora (Bot.), the assemblage of plants growing
        naturally in a desert, or in a dry and apparently
        unproductive place.
  
     Desert+hare+(Zo["o]l.),+a+small+hare+({Lepus+sylvaticus" rel="nofollow">Desert hare (Zo["o]l.), a small hare ({Lepus sylvaticus,
        var. Arizon[ae]) inhabiting the deserts of the Western
        United States.
  
     Desert mouse (Zo["o]l.), an American mouse ({Hesperomys
        eremicus), living in the Western deserts.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Desert \De*sert"\, v. i.
     To abandon a service without leave; to quit military service
     without permission, before the expiration of one's term; to
     abscond.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The soldiers . . . deserted in numbers.  --Bancroft.
  
     Syn: To abandon; forsake; leave; relinquish; renounce; quit;
          depart from; abdicate. See Abandon.
          [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Desert \De*sert"\ (d[-e]*z[~e]rt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
     Deserted; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserting.] [Cf. L. desertus,
     p. p. of deserere to desert, F. d['e]serter. See 2d
     Desert.]
     1. To leave (especially something which one should stay by
        and support); to leave in the lurch; to abandon; to
        forsake; -- implying blame, except sometimes when used of
        localities; as, to desert a friend, a principle, a cause,
        one's country. ``The deserted fortress.'' --Prescott.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Mil.) To abandon (the service) without leave; to forsake
        in violation of duty; to abscond from; as, to desert the
        army; to desert one's colors.
        [1913 Webster]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]


  Desert \De*sert"\, n. [OF. deserte, desserte, merit, recompense,
     fr. deservir, desservir, to merit. See Deserve.]
     That which is deserved; the reward or the punishment justly
     due; claim to recompense, usually in a good sense; right to
     reward; merit.
  
           According to their deserts will I judge them. --Ezek.
                                                    vii. 27.
  
           Andronicus, surnamed Pius For many good and great
           deserts to Rome.                         --Shak.
  
           His reputation falls far below his desert. --A.
                                                    Hamilton.
  
     Syn: Merit; worth; excellence; due.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]


  Desert \Des"ert\, n. [F. d['e]sert, L. desertum, from desertus
     solitary, desert, pp. of deserere to desert; de- + serere to
     join together. See Series.]
     1. A deserted or forsaken region; a barren tract incapable of
        supporting population, as the vast sand plains of Asia and
        Africa are destitute and vegetation.
  
              A dreary desert and a gloomy waste.   --Pope.
  
     2. A tract, which may be capable of sustaining a population,
        but has been left unoccupied and uncultivated; a
        wilderness; a solitary place.
  
              He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her
              desert like the garden of the Lord.   --Is. li. 3.
  
     Note: Also figuratively.
  
                 Before her extended Dreary and vast and silent,
                 the desert of life.                --Longfellow.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]


  Desert \De*sert"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserted; p. pr. & vb.
     n. Deserting.] [Cf. L. desertus, p. p. of deserere to
     desert, F. d['e]serter. See 2d Desert.]
     1. To leave (especially something which one should stay by
        and support); to leave in the lurch; to abandon; to
        forsake; -- implying blame, except sometimes when used of
        localities; as, to desert a friend, a principle, a cause,
        one's country. ``The deserted fortress.'' --Prescott.
  
     2. (Mil.) To abandon (the service) without leave; to forsake
        in violation of duty; to abscond from; as, to desert the
        army; to desert one's colors.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]


  Desert \De*sert"\, v. i.
     To abandon a service without leave; to quit military service
     without permission, before the expiration of one's term; to
     abscond.
  
           The soldiers . . . deserted in numbers.  --Bancroft.
  
     Syn: To abandon; forsake; leave; relinquish; renounce; quit;
          depart from; abdicate. See Abandon.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]


  Desert \Des"ert\, a. [Cf. L. desertus, p. p. of deserere, and F.
     d['e]sert. See 2d Desert.]
     Of or pertaining to a desert; forsaken; without life or
     cultivation; unproductive; waste; barren; wild; desolate;
     solitary; as, they landed on a desert island.
  
           He . . . went aside privately into a desert place.
                                                    --Luke ix. 10.
  
           Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste
           its sweetness on the desert air.         --Gray.
  
     Desert flora (Bot.), the assemblage of plants growing
        naturally in a desert, or in a dry and apparently
        unproductive place.
  
     Desert+hare+(Zo["o]l.),+a+small+hare+({Lepus+sylvaticus" rel="nofollow">Desert hare (Zo["o]l.), a small hare ({Lepus sylvaticus,
        var. Arizon[ae]) inhabiting the deserts of the Western
        United States.
  
     Desert mouse (Zo["o]l.), an American mouse ({Hesperomys
        eremicus), living in the Western deserts.

From WordNet (r) 2.0 : [ wn ]


  desert
       adj : located in a dismal or remote area; desolate; "a desert
             island"; "a godforsaken wilderness crossroads"; "a wild
             stretch of land"; "waste places" [syn: godforsaken, waste,
              wild]
       n : an arid region with little or no vegetation
       v 1: leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the
            lurch; "The mother deserted her children" [syn: abandon,
             forsake, desolate]
       2: desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to
          join the opposing cause, country, or army; "If soldiers
          deserted Hitler's army, they were shot" [syn: defect]

From Greek Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-el-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  desert
     Καταλανικά n.
     (ετ γεωγραφία ca) η έρημος

From English Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  desert
     Friulian n.
     (l en desert)
     Middle English alt.
     1 (senseid enm deserved) The situation of deserving something.
     2 That which is deserved or merit; (l en desert id=deserved).
     3 An action or deed which invites or prompts judgement.
     4 worth, virtuousness, benefit; that which is good.
     Middle English n.
     1 (senseid enm deserved) The situation of deserving something.
     2 That which is deserved or merit; (l en desert id=deserved).
     3 An action or deed which invites or prompts judgement.
     4 worth, virtuousness, benefit; that which is good.
     Middle English a.
     1 (lb enm of places) barren, wild
     2 (lb enm usually of places) deserted, abandoned
     Middle English alt.
     (senseid enm wilderness) wilderness (gloss: unpopulated, bare land)
     Middle English n.
     (senseid enm wilderness) wilderness (gloss: unpopulated, bare land)
     n.
     (senseid en deserved)(lb en usually in the plural) That which is
  deserved or merit; a just punishment or reward.
     a.
     ''Usually of a place'': abandoned#Adjective, deserted#Adjective, or
  uninhabited.
     n.
     1 A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with
  little water or vegetation; a wasteland.
     2 # (lb en informal) In particular, a barren, arid area of land which
  is hot, with sandy, rocky, or parched ground.<!--in contrast to polar
  deserts covered in ice which are deserts in sense 1 but not 1.1-->
     3 (lb en figuratively) Any barren place or situation.
     vb.
     1 To leave (anything that depends on one's presence to survive,
  exist, or succeed), especially when contrary to a promise or obligation;
  to abandon; to forsake.
     2 To leave one's duty or post, especially to leave a military or
  naval unit without permission.
     n.
     (obsolete form of en dessert)
     Romanian n.
     dessert

From English Wiktionary: English language only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-en-2023-07-27 ]


  desert
     n.
     (senseid en deserved)(lb en usually in the plural) That which is
  deserved or merit; a just punishment or reward.
     a.
     ''Usually of a place'': abandoned#Adjective, deserted#Adjective, or
  uninhabited.
     n.
     1 A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with
  little water or vegetation; a wasteland.
     2 # (lb en informal) In particular, a barren, arid area of land which
  is hot, with sandy, rocky, or parched ground.<!--in contrast to polar
  deserts covered in ice which are deserts in sense 1 but not 1.1-->
     3 (lb en figuratively) Any barren place or situation.
     vb.
     1 To leave (anything that depends on one's presence to survive,
  exist, or succeed), especially when contrary to a promise or obligation;
  to abandon; to forsake.
     2 To leave one's duty or post, especially to leave a military or
  naval unit without permission.
     n.
     (obsolete form of en dessert)

From English Wiktionary: Western, Greek, and Slavonic languages only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western_Greek_Slavonic-2023-07-27 ]


  desert
     Middle English alt.
     1 (senseid enm deserved) The situation of deserving something.
     2 That which is deserved or merit; (l en desert id=deserved).
     3 An action or deed which invites or prompts judgement.
     4 worth, virtuousness, benefit; that which is good.
     Middle English n.
     1 (senseid enm deserved) The situation of deserving something.
     2 That which is deserved or merit; (l en desert id=deserved).
     3 An action or deed which invites or prompts judgement.
     4 worth, virtuousness, benefit; that which is good.
     Middle English a.
     1 (lb enm of places) barren, wild
     2 (lb enm usually of places) deserted, abandoned
     Middle English alt.
     (senseid enm wilderness) wilderness (gloss: unpopulated, bare land)
     Middle English n.
     (senseid enm wilderness) wilderness (gloss: unpopulated, bare land)
     Middle French n.
     #English (desolate terrain)
     Old French n.
     #English (desolate terrain)
     Serbo-Croatian n.
     dessert

From English Wiktionary: Western languages only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western-2023-07-27 ]


  desert
     Middle English alt.
     1 (senseid enm deserved) The situation of deserving something.
     2 That which is deserved or merit; (l en desert id=deserved).
     3 An action or deed which invites or prompts judgement.
     4 worth, virtuousness, benefit; that which is good.
     Middle English n.
     1 (senseid enm deserved) The situation of deserving something.
     2 That which is deserved or merit; (l en desert id=deserved).
     3 An action or deed which invites or prompts judgement.
     4 worth, virtuousness, benefit; that which is good.
     Middle English a.
     1 (lb enm of places) barren, wild
     2 (lb enm usually of places) deserted, abandoned
     Middle English alt.
     (senseid enm wilderness) wilderness (gloss: unpopulated, bare land)
     Middle English n.
     (senseid enm wilderness) wilderness (gloss: unpopulated, bare land)
     Middle French n.
     #English (desolate terrain)
     Old French n.
     #English (desolate terrain)

From Finnish Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-fi-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  desert
     Englanti a.
     autio, asumaton
     Englanti n.
     1 aavikko, hiekka-aavikko
     2 autiomaa
     Englanti vb.
     1 hylätä, hyljätä
     2 karata (erit. taistelusta)

From Swedish Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-sv-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  desert
     Isländska n.
     efterrätt

From English-Afrikaans FreeDict Dictionary ver. 0.1.3 : [ freedict:eng-afr ]


  desert /dˈɛzət/
  1. verlaat
  2. afval

From English-Arabic FreeDict Dictionary ver. 0.6.3 : [ freedict:eng-ara ]


  Desert /dˈɛzət/
  الصحراء

From English-български език FreeDict+WikDict dictionary ver. 2023.05.29 : [ freedict:eng-bul ]


  desert //dəˈzɑɹt// //ˈdɛz.ət// //ˈdɛz.ɚt// 
  пуст, пусти́нен
  abandoned, deserted, or uninhabited

From English-български език FreeDict+WikDict dictionary ver. 2023.05.29 : [ freedict:eng-bul ]


  desert //dəˈzɑɹt// //ˈdɛz.ət// //ˈdɛz.ɚt// 
  пусти́ня, пустиня
  barren area

From English-български език FreeDict+WikDict dictionary ver. 2023.05.29 : [ freedict:eng-bul ]


  desert //dəˈzɝt// //dɪˈzɜːt// //dɪˈzɝt// 
  заслу́жено
  that which is deserved or merited; a just punishment or reward

From English-български език FreeDict+WikDict dictionary ver. 2023.05.29 : [ freedict:eng-bul ]


  desert //dəˈzɝt// //dɪˈzɜːt// //dɪˈzɝt// 
  1. изоста́вям, напу́скам
  to abandon
  2. дезерти́рам
  to leave military service