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de·ser·tion

De•ser•tion.

• abandonment
• abscondment
• absence without leave
• dereliction
• deviationism
• disappearance
• dishonorable discharge
• desert mariposa tulip
• Desert mouse
• desert olive
• desert paintbrush
• desert plant
• desert plume
• desert rheumatism
• desert rock
• desert rose
• desert sand verbena
• desert selaginella
• desert soil
• desert sunflower
• desert tortoise
• desert willow
• desertic soil
• desertification
• desertization
• Desertlessly
• deservedness
• deservingness
• desexualise
• desexualize
• desexualizing
• deserticolous
• Desertification and Regeneration in Central Asia
• Desertification Information System for the Mediterranean
• Desertification, Drought, Poverty and Agriculture
• deserting a sinking ship
• deserting/leaving a sinking ship
• Desertion of seamen
• desertisation
• deserts a sinking ship
• Deserts and xeric shrublands
• Deserts Like Eden
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Definition of desertion noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• The army was badly affected by desertions.

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Cite this Entry

“Desert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desert. Accessed 7 Jun. 2024.

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Kids definition of desert.

Kids Definition of desert  (Entry 2 of 4)

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Kids Definition of desert  (Entry 4 of 4)

Middle English desert "barren land," from early French desert (same meaning), derived from Latin deserere "to desert, abandon," from de- "from, away" and serere "to join together"

Middle English deserte "quality of being worthy of a reward or punishment," from early French desert (same meaning), from deservir "to deserve," from Latin deservire "to devote oneself to"

from French déserter "to desert, abandon," from Latin desertare (same meaning), derived from earlier deserere "to desert, abandon" — related to desert entry 1

More from Merriam-Webster on desert

Nglish: Translation of desert for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of desert for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about desert

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ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Deserts are areas that receive very little precipitation.

Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Geology, Meteorology, Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography, Social Studies, World History

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Deserts are areas that receive very little precipitation . People often use the adjectives “hot,” “dry,” and “empty” to describe deserts , but these words do not tell the whole story. Although some deserts are very hot, with daytime temperatures as high as 54°C (130°F), other deserts have cold winters or are cold year-round. And most deserts , far from being empty and lifeless, are home to a variety of plants, animals, and other organisms . People have adapted to life in the desert for thou sands of years. One thing all deserts have in common is that they are arid , or dry. Most experts agree that a desert is an area of land that receives no more than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of precipitation a year. The amount of evaporation in a desert often greatly exceeds the annual rainfall. In all deserts , there is little water available for plants and other organisms . Deserts are found on every continent and cover about one-fifth of Earth’s land area. They are home to around 1 billion people—one-sixth of the Earth’s population. Although the word “ desert ” may bring to mind a sea of shifting sand , dunes cover only about 10 percent of the world’s deserts . Some deserts are mountainous. Others are dry expanses of rock, sand , or salt flats . Kinds of Deserts The world’s deserts can be divided into five types—subtropical, coastal, rain shadow , interior, and polar. Deserts are divided into these types according to the causes of their dryness. Subtropical Deserts Subtropical deserts are caused by the circulation patterns of air masses . They are found along the Tropic of Cancer , between 15 and 30 degrees north of the Equator , or along the Tropic of Capricorn , between 15 and 30 degrees south of the Equator . Hot, moist air rises into the atmosphere near the Equator . As the air rises, it cools and drops its moisture as heavy tropical rains. The resulting cooler, drier air mass moves away from the Equator . As it approaches the tropics, the air descends and warms up again. The descending air hinders the formation of clouds , so very little rain falls on the land below. The world’s largest hot desert , the Sahara, is a subtropical desert in northern Africa. The Sahara Desert is almost the size of the entire continental United States. Other subtropical deserts include the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa and the Tanami Desert in northern Australia. Coastal Deserts Cold ocean currents contribute to the formation of coastal deserts . Air blowing toward shore , chilled by contact with cold water, produces a layer of fog . This heavy fog drifts onto land. Although humidity is high, the atmospheric changes that normally cause rainfall are not present. A coastal desert may be almost totally rainless, yet damp with fog . The Atacama Desert , on the Pacific shores of Chile, is a coastal desert . Some areas of the Atacama are often covered by fog . But the region can go decades without rainfall. In fact, the Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth. Some weather stations in the Atacama have never recorded a drop of rain. Rain Shadow Deserts Rain shadow deserts exist near the leeward slopes of some mountain ranges . Leeward slopes face away from prevailing winds . When moisture-laden air hits a mountain range , it is forced to rise. The air then cools and forms clouds that drop moisture on the windward ( wind -facing) slopes. When the air moves over the mountaintop and begins to descend the leeward slopes, there is little moisture left. The descending air warms up, making it difficult for clouds to form. Death Valley , in the U.S. states of California and Nevada, is a rain shadow desert . Death Valley , the lowest and driest place in North America, is in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Interior Deserts Interior deserts , which are found in the heart of continents , exist because no moisture-laden winds reach them. By the time air masses from coastal areas reach the interior, they have lost all their moisture. Interior deserts are sometimes called inland deserts . The Gobi Desert , in China and Mongolia, lies hundreds of kilometers from the ocean. Winds that reach the Gobi have long since lost their moisture. The Gobi is also in the rain shadow of the Himalaya mountains to the south. Polar Deserts Parts of the Arctic and the Antarctic are classified as deserts . These polar deserts contain great quantities of water, but most of it is locked in glaciers and ice sheets year-round. So, despite the presence of millions of liters of water, there is actually little available for plants and animals. The largest desert in the world is also the coldest. Almost the entire continent of Ant arctica is a polar desert , experiencing little precipitation . Few organisms can withstand the freezing, dry climate of Ant arctica . Changing Deserts The regions that are deserts today were not always so dry. Between 8000 and 3000 BCE, for example, the Sahara had a much milder, moister climate . Climatologists identify this period as the “ Green Sahara .” Archaeological evidence of past settlements is abundant in the middle of what are arid , unproductive areas of the Sahara today. This evidence includes rock paintings, graves , and tools. Fossils and artifacts show that lime and olive trees, oaks, and oleanders once bloomed in the Sahara. Elephants, gazelles, rhinos, giraffes, and people used stream-fed pools and lakes. There were three or four other moist periods in the Sahara. Similar lush conditions existed as recently as 25,000 years ago. Between the moist periods came periods of dryness much like today’s. The Sahara is not the only desert to have dramatic climate change . The Ghaggar River , in what is now India and Pakistan, was a major water source for Mohenjo-daro , an urban area of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization . Over time, the Ghaggar changed course and now only flows during the rainy monsoon season. Mohenjo-daro is now a part of the vast Thar and Cholistan deserts . Most of Earth’s deserts will continue to undergo periods of climate change . Desert Characteristics Humidity —water vapor in the air—is near zero in most deserts . Light rains often e vaporate in the dry air, never reaching the ground. Rainstorms sometimes come as violent cloudbursts . A cloudburst may bring as much as 25 centimeters (10 inches) of rain in a single hour—the only rain the desert gets all year. Desert humidity is usually so low that not enough water vapor exists to form clouds . The sun’s rays beat down through cloudless skies and bake the land. The ground heats the air so much that air rises in waves you can actually see. These shimmering waves confuse the eye, causing travelers to see distorted images called mirages . Temperature extremes are a characteristic of most deserts . In some deserts , temperatures rise so high that people are at risk of dehydration and even death. At night, these areas cool quickly because they lack the insulation provided by humidity and clouds . Temperatures can drop to 4°C (40°F) or lower. In the Chihuahuan Desert , in the United States and Mexico, temperatures can vary by dozens of degrees in one day. Daytime temperatures in the Chihuahua can climb beyond 37°C (100°F), while nighttime temperatures can dip below freezing (0°C or 32°F).

Winds at speeds of about 100 kilometers per hour (60 miles per hour) sweep through some deserts . With little vegetation to block it, the wind can carry sand and dust across entire continents and even oceans. Windstorms in the Sahara hurl so much material into the air that African dust sometimes crosses the Atlantic Ocean. Sunsets on the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of Florida, for example, can be tinted yellow. First-time visitors to deserts are often amazed by the unusual landscapes , which may include dunes , towering bare peaks, flat-topped rock formations, and smoothly polished canyons . These features differ from those of wetter regions, which are often gently rounded by regular rainfall and softened by lush vegetation . Water helps carve desert lands. During a sudden storm, water scours the dry, hard-baked land, gathering sand , rocks, and other loose material as it flows. As the muddy water roars downhill, it cuts deep channels, called arroyos or wadis . A thunderstorm can send a fast-moving torrent of water—a flash flood —down a dry arroyo . A flash flood like this can sweep away anything and anyone in its path. Many desert regions di scourage visitors from hiking or camping in arroyos for this reason. Even urban areas in deserts can be vulnerable to flash floods . The city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, sits in the Arabian Desert . In 2011, Jeddah was struck by a sudden thunderstorm and flash flood . Roads and buildings were washed away, and more than 100 people died. Even in a desert , water and wind eventually wear away softer rock. Sometimes, rock is carved into tablelike formations such as mesas and buttes . At the foot of these formations, water drops its burden of gravel , sand , and other sediment, forming deposits called alluvial fans . Many deserts have no drainage to a river , lake, or ocean. Rainwater, including water from flash floods , collects in large depressions called basins . The shallow lakes that form in basins eventually e vaporate , leaving playas , or salt-surfaced lake beds. Playas , also called sinks, pans, or salt flats , can be hundreds of kilometers wide. The Black Rock Desert in the U.S. state of Nevada, for instance, is all that remains of the prehistoric Lake Lahontan. The hard, flat surface of desert salt flats are often ideal for car racing. In 1997, British pilot Andy Green set the land speed record in Black Rock Desert —1,228 kilometers per hour (763 miles per hour). Green’s vehicle, the ThrustSSC, was the first car to break the sound barrier . Wind is the primary sculptor of a desert ’s hills of sand , called dunes . Wind builds dunes that rise as high as 180 meters (590 feet). Dunes migrate constantly with the wind . They usually shift a few meters a year, but a particularly violent sandstorm can move a dune 20 meters (65 feet) in a single day. Sandstorms may bury everything in their path—rocks, fields, and even towns. One legend holds that the Persian Emperor Cambyses II sent an army of 50,000 men to the Siwa Oasis in western Egypt around 530 BCE. Halfway there, an enormous sandstorm swallowed the entire group. Archaeologists in the Sahara have been unsuccessfully looking for the “Lost Army of Cambyses” ever since. Water in the Desert Rain is usually the main source of water in a desert , but it falls very rarely. Many desert dwellers rely on groundwater , stored in aquifers below the surface. Groundwater comes from rain or other precipitation , like snow or hail. It seeps into the ground, where it can remain for thou sands of years. Underground water sometimes rises to the surface, forming springs or seeps. A fertile green area called an oasis , or cienega , may exist near such a water source. About 90 major, inhabited oases dot the Sahara. These oases are supported by some of the world’s largest supplies of underground water. People, animals, and plants all surround these oases, which provide stable access to water, food, and shelter. When groundwater doesn’t seep to the surface, people often drill into the ground to get to it. Many desert cities, from the American Southwest to the Middle East , rely heavily on such aquifers to fill their water needs. Rural Israeli communities called kibbutzim rely on aquifers to furnish water for crops and even fish farming in the dry Negev Desert .

Drilling into aquifers provides water for drinking, agriculture , industry , and hygiene . However, it comes at a cost to the environment. Aquifers take a long time to refill. If desert communities use groundwater faster than it is replenished, water shortages can occur. The Mojave Desert , in southern California and Nevada, for instance, is sinking due to aquifer depletion . The booming desert communities of Las Vegas, Nevada, and California’s “ Inland Empire ” are using water faster than the aquifer is being refilled. The water level in the aquifer has sunk as much as 30 meters (100 feet) since the 1950s, while the land above the aquifer has sunk as much as 10 centimeters (4 inches). Rivers sometimes provide water in a desert . The Colorado River , for instance, flows through three deserts in the American Southwest: the Great Basin , the Sonoran, and the Mojave. Seven states—Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and California—rely on the river for some of their water supply. People often modify rivers to help distribute and store water in a desert . The Nile River ecosystem dominates the eastern part of the Sahara Desert , for instance. The Nile provides the most reliable, plentiful source of freshwater in the region. Between 1958 and 1971, the government of Egypt constructed a massive dam on the Upper Nile (the southern part of the river , near Egypt’s border with Sudan). The Aswan Dam harnesses the power of the Nile for hydroelectricity used in in dustry . It also stores water in a manmade lake, Lake Nasser, to protect the country’s communities and agriculture against drought . Construction of the Aswan High Dam was a huge engineering project. Local desert communities can divert rivers on a smaller scale. Throughout the Middle East , communities have dug artificial wadis , where freshwater can flow during rainy seasons. In countries like Yemen, artificial wadis can carry enough water for whitewater rafting trips during certain times of the year. When deserts and water supplies cross state and national borders, people often fight over water rights . This has happened among the states in the Colorado River Basin , which have negotiated for many years over the division of the river ’s water. Rapidly expanding populations in California, Nevada, and Arizona have compounded the problem. Agreements that were made in the early 20th century failed to account for Native American water rights . Mexican access to the Colorado, which has its delta in the Mexican state of Baja California, was ignored. Desert agriculture , including cotton production, demanded a large portion of the Colorado. The environmental impact of dams was not considered when the structures were built. States of the Colorado River Basin continue to negotiate today to prepare for population growth, agricultural development , and the possibility of future droughts . Life in the Desert Plants and animals adapt to desert habitats in many ways. Desert plants grow far apart, allowing them to obtain as much water around them as possible. This spacing gives some desert regions a desolate appearance. In some deserts , plants have unique leaves to capture sunlight for photosynthesis , the process plants use to make food. Small pores in the leaves, called stomata , take in carbon dioxide . When they open, they also release water vapor . In the desert , all these stomata would quickly dry out a plant. So desert plants typically have tiny, waxy leaves. Cactuses have no leaves at all. They produce food in their green stems. Some desert plants, such as cactuses , have shallow, wide-spreading root systems . The plants soak up water quickly and store it in their cells . Saguaro cactuses , which live in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona and northern Mexico, expand like accordions to store water in the cells of their trunks and branches. A large saguaro is a living storage tower that can hold hundreds of liters of water. Other desert plants have very deep roots. The roots of a mesquite tree, for example, can reach water more than 30 meters (100 feet) underground. Mesquites , saguaros, and many other desert plants also have thorns to protect them from grazing animals . Many desert plants are annuals , which means they only live for one season. Their seeds may lie dormant for years during long dry spells. When rain finally comes, the seeds sprout rapidly. Plants grow, bloom, produce new seeds, and die, often in a short span of time. A soaking rain can change a desert into a wonderland of flowers almost overnight.

Animals that have adapted to a desert environment are called xerocoles . Xerocoles include species of insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Some xerocoles avoid the sun by resting in scarce shade. Many escape the heat in cool burrows they dig in the ground. The fennec fox, for example, is native to the Sahara Desert . Fennec fox communities work together to dig large burrows , some as large as 93 square meters (1,000 square feet). Dew can collect in these burrows , providing the foxes with fresh water. However, fennec foxes have adapted so they do not have to drink water at all: Their kidneys retain enough water from the food they eat. Most xerocoles are nocturnal . They sleep through the hot days and do their hunting and foraging at night. Deserts that seem desolate during the day are very active in the cool nighttime air. Foxes, coyotes, rats, and rabbits are all nocturnal desert mammals. Snakes and lizards are familiar desert reptiles. Insects such as moths and flies are abundant in the desert . Most desert birds are restricted to areas near water, such as river banks. However, some birds, such as the roadrunner, have adapted to life in the desert . The roadrunner, native to the deserts of North America, obtains water from its food. Some xerocoles have bodies that help them handle the heat. A desert tortoise’s thick shell insulates the animal and reduces water loss. Sand lizards, native to the deserts of Europe and Asia, are nicknamed “dancing lizards” because of the way they quickly lift one leg at a time off the hot desert sand . A jackrabbit’s long ears contain blood vessels that release heat. Some desert vultures urinate on their own legs, cooling them by e vaporation . Many desert animals have developed ingenious ways of getting the water they need. The thorny devil, a lizard that lives in the Australian Outback , has a system of tiny grooves and channels on its body that lead to its mouth. The lizard catches rain and dew in these grooves and sucks them into its mouth by gulping. Camels are very efficient water users. The animals do not store water in their humps, as people once believed. The humps store fat. Hydrogen molecules in the fat combine with inhaled oxygen to form water. During a shortage of food or water, camels draw upon this fat for nutrition and moisture. Dromedary camels, native to the Arabian and Sahara deserts , can lose up to 30 percent of their body weight without harm. Camels, nicknamed “ships of the desert ,” are widely used for transportation, meat, and milk in the Maghreb (a region in Northwest Africa), the Middle East , and the Indian Sub continent . People and the Desert About 1 billion people live in deserts . Many of these people rely on centuries-old customs to make their lives as comfortable as possible Civilizations throughout the Middle East and Maghreb have adapted their clothing to the hot, dry conditions of the Sahara and Arabian deserts . Clothing is versatile and based on robes made of rectangles of fabric. Long-sleeved, full-length, and often white, these robes shield all but the head and hands from the wind , sand , heat, and cold. White reflects sunlight, and the loose fit allows cooling air to flow across the skin. These robes of loose cloth can be adjusted (folded) for length, sleeves, and pockets, depending on the wearer and the climate . A thobe is a full-length, long-sleeved white robe. An abaya is a sleeveless cloak that protects the wearer from dust and heat. A djebba is a short, square pullover shirt worn by men. A kaffiyeh is a rectangular piece of cloth folded loosely around the head to protect the wearer from sun exposure, dust , and sand . It can be folded and unfolded to cover the mouth, nose, and eyes. Kaffiyehs are secured around the head with a cord called an agal . A turban is similar to a kaffiyeh , but wrapped around the head instead of being secured with an agal . Turbans are also much longer—up to six meters (20 feet)! Desert dwellers have also adapted their shelters for the unique climate . The ancient Anasazi peoples of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico constructed huge apartment complexes in the rocky cliffs of the Sonoran Desert . These cliff dwellings, sometimes dozens of meters off the ground, were constructed with thick, earthen walls that provided insulation . Although temperatures outside varied greatly from day to night, temperatures inside did not. Tiny, high windows let in only a little light and helped keep out dust and sand .

The need to find food and water has led many desert civilizations to become nomadic . Nomadic cultures are those that do not have permanent settlements. In the deserts of the Middle East and Asia, nomadic tent communities continue to flourish . Tent walls are made of thick, sturdy cloth that can keep out sand and dust , but also allow cool breezes to blow through. Tents can be rolled up and transported on pack animals (usually horses, donkeys, or camels). Nomads move frequently so their flocks of sheep and goats will have water and grazing land. Besides animals like camels and goats, a variety of desert vegetation is found in oases and along the shores of rivers and lakes. Figs, olives, and oranges thrive in desert oases and have been harvested for centuries. Some desert areas rely on resources brought from more fertile areas—food trucked in from distant farmlands or, more frequently, water piped from wetter regions. Large areas of desert soil are irrigated by water pumped from underground sources or brought by canal from distant rivers or lakes. The booming Inland Empire of southeastern California is made up of deserts (the Mojave and the Sonoran) that rely on water for agriculture , in dustry , and residential development. Canals and aqueducts supply the Inland Empire with water from the Colorado River , to the east, and the Sierra Nevada snowmelt to the north. A variety of crops can thrive in these irrigated oases. Sugar cane is a very water-intensive crop mostly harvested in tropical regions. However, sugar cane is also harvested in the deserts of Pakistan and Australia. Water for irrigation is transported from hundreds of kilometers away, or drilled from hundreds of meters underground. Oases in desert climates have been popular spots for tourists for centuries. Spas ring the Dead Sea, a saline lake in the Judean Desert of Israel and Jordan. The Dead Sea has had flourishing spas since the time of King David . Air transportation and the development of air conditioning have made the sunny climate of deserts even more accessible and attractive to people from colder regions. Populations at resorts like Palm Springs , California, and Las Vegas, Nevada, have boomed. Desert parks, such as Death Valley National Park, California, attract thou sands of visitors every year. People who migrate to the warm, dry desert for the winter and return to more temperate climates in the spring are sometimes called “ snowbirds .” In rural areas, hot days turn into cool nights, providing welcome relief from the scorching sun. But in cities, structures like buildings, roads, and parking lots hold on to daytime heat long after the sun sets. The temperature stays high even at night, making the city an “island” of heat in the middle of the desert . This is called the urban heat island effect. It is less pronounced in desert cities than cities built in heavily forested areas. Cities like New York City, New York, and Atlanta, Georgia, can be 5 degrees warmer than the surrounding area. New York was built on wetland habitat , and Atlanta was built in a wooded area. Cities like Phoenix, Arizona, or Kuwait City, Kuwait, have a much smaller urban heat island effect. They may be only slightly warmer than the surrounding desert . Deserts can hold economically valuable resources that drive civilizations and economies. The most notable desert resource in the world is the massive oil reserves in the Arabian Desert of the Middle East . More than half of the proven oil reserves in the world lie beneath the sands of the Arabian Desert , mostly in Saudi Arabia. The oil in dustry draws companies, migrant workers, engineers, geologists , and biologists to the Middle East . Desertification Desertification is the process of productive cropland turning into non-productive, desert -like environments. Desertification usually happens in semi- arid areas that border deserts . Human activities are a primary cause of desertification . These activities include overgrazing of livestock , deforestation , overcultivation of farmland, and poor irrigation practices. Overgrazing and de forestation remove plants that anchor the soil. As a result, wind and water erode the nutrient -rich topsoil . Hooves from grazing livestock compact the soil, preventing it from absorbing water and fertilizers . Agricultural production is devastated , and the economy of a region suffers.

The deserts of Patagonia , the largest in South America, are expanding due to desertification . Patagonia is a major agricultural region where non-native species such as cattle and sheep graze on grassland . Sheep and cattle have reduced the native vegetation in Patagonia , causing loss of valuable topsoil . More than 30 percent of the grasslands of Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia are faced with desertification . People often overuse natural resources to survive and profit in the short term, while neglecting long-term sustainability . Madagascar, for instance, is a tropical island in the Indian Ocean. Seeking greater economic opportunities, farmers in Madagascar engaged in slash-and-burn agriculture . This method relies on cutting and burning forests to create fields for crops . Unfortunately, at the time farmers were investing in slash-and-burn agriculture , Madagascar experienced long-term droughts . With little vegetation to anchor it, the thin topsoil quickly eroded . The island’s central plateau is now a barren desert . Rapid population growth also can lead to overuse of resources , killing plant life and depleting nutrients from the soil. Lake Chad is a source of freshwater for four countries on the edge of the Sahara Desert : Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria. These developing countries use Lake Chad’s shallow waters for agriculture , in dustry , and hygiene . Since the 1960s, Lake Chad has shrunk to half its size. Desertification has severely reduced the wetland habitats surrounding the lake, as well as its fishery and grazing lands. Desertification is not new. In the 1930s, parts of the Great Plains of North America became the “ Dust Bowl ” through a combination of drought and poor farming practices. Millions of people had to leave their farms and seek a living in other parts of the country. Desertification is an increasing problem. Every year, about 6 million square kilometers (2.3 million square miles) of land become useless for cultivation due to desertification . The Sahara Desert crept 100 kilometers (39 miles) south between 1950 and 1975. South Africa is losing 300-400 million metric tons (330-441 short tons) of topsoil each year. Many countries are working to reduce the rates of desertification . Trees and other vegetation are being planted to break the force of the wind and to hold the soil. Windbreaks made of trees have been planted throughout the Sahel , the southern border region of the Sahara Desert . These windbreaks anchor the soil and prevent sand from invading populated areas. In China’s Tengger Desert , researchers have developed another way to control wandering dunes . They anchor the drifting sand with a gridlike network of straw fences. Straw is poked partway into the sand , forming a pattern of small squares along the contours of the dunes . The resulting fences break the force of the wind at ground level, stopping dune movement by confining the sand within the squares of the grid. New technologies are also being developed to combat desertification . “ Nanoclay ” is a substance sprayed on desert sands that acts as a binding agent. Nanoclay keeps the sand moist, clumping it together and preventing it from blowing away. Deserts Get Hotter Rising temperatures can have huge effects on fragile desert ecosystems . Global warming is the most current instance of climate change . Human activities such as burning fossil fuels contribute to global warming . In deserts , temperatures are rising even faster than the global average. This warming has effects beyond simply making hot deserts hotter. For example, increasing temperatures lead to the loss of nitrogen , an important nutrient , from the soil. Heat prevents microbes from converting nutrients to nitrates , which are necessary for almost all living things. This can reduce the already limited plant life in deserts . Climate change also affects rainfall patterns. Climate scientists predict that global warming will lead to more rainfall in some regions, but less rainfall in other places. Areas facing reduced precipitation include areas with some of the largest deserts in the world: North Africa (Sahara), the American Southwest (Sonoran and Chihuahuan), the southern Andes ( Patagonia ), and western Australia (Great Victoria). In literature and in legend, deserts are often described as hostile places to avoid. Today, people value desert resources and biodiversity . Communities, governments , and organizations are working to preserve desert habitats and increase desert productivity.

Devil of a Storm Dust devils are common in hot deserts. They look like tiny tornadoes, but they start on the ground rather than in the sky. When patches of ground get very hot, the heated air above them begins to rise and spin. This whirling column of hot air picks up dust and dirt. These spinning columns of dirt can rise hundreds of feet in the air.

Freak Floods Deserts are defined by their dryness. However, flash floods take more lives in deserts than thirst does.

Hot and Cold Deserts The largest hot desert in the world is the Sahara, which is 9 million square kilometers (3.5 million square miles). It isn't the hottest place on Earth, though. That distinction belongs to Death Valley, in California's Mojave Desert. The highest temperature on Earth was recorded there: 56.7 C (134.1 F). The largest polar desert is Antarctica, at 13 million square kilometers (5 million square miles). Antarctica boasts the lowest official temperature recorded on Earth: -89.2 C (-128.6 F), recorded on July 21, 1983.

Rising from the Ashes The desert city of Phoenix, Arizona, is named for the mythical desert bird that burns to death only to be reborn, rising from its own ashes. The city of Phoenix was built on top of the ruins of canals built by the Hohokam people between 500 and 1450 CE. The Hohokam used the canals to irrigate their crops. Modern-day residents also rely on an extensive canal system to provide irrigation.

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Related Resources

• 1.1 Etymology
• 1.2 Pronunciation
• 1.3.1 Derived terms
• 1.3.2 Related terms
• 1.3.3 Translations
• 1.4 Anagrams
• 2.1.1 Declension
• 2.2 Further reading

Borrowed from Middle French désertion .

Pronunciation

• ( Received Pronunciation ) IPA ( key ) : /dɪˈzɜːʃən/
• ( General American ) IPA ( key ) : /dɪˈzɝʃən/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)ʃən

desertion ( countable and uncountable , plural desertions )

• The act of deserting .

Derived terms

• spiritual desertion

Related terms

Translations.

• detersion , enteroids , interdose

desertion   c ( singular definite desertionen , plural indefinite desertioner )

Further reading

• “ desertion ” in Den Danske Ordbog

• English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
• English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ser- (bind)
• English terms borrowed from Middle French
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• Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)ʃən
• Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)ʃən/3 syllables
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desertion noun

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What does the noun desertion mean?

There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun desertion , one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

desertion has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the noun desertion ?

How is the noun desertion pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun desertion come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun desertion is in the late 1500s.

OED's earliest evidence for desertion is from 1591, in the writing of William Perkins, theologian and Church of England clergyman.

desertion is a borrowing from French.

Etymons: French désertion .

Nearby entries

• desert, v. 1539–
• desert boot, n. 1948–
• deserted, adj. 1629–
• desertedness, n. 1818–
• deserter, n. ?a1645–
• desertful, adj.¹ 1583–
• desertful, adj.² 1601
• desertfully, adv. 1601–
• desertic, adj. 1936–
• desertification, n. 1974–
• desertion, n. 1591–
• desert ironwood, n. 1882–
• desert island, n. 1607–
• desertive, adj. 1596
• desertization, n. 1968–
• desert-lemon, n. 1889–
• desertless, adj.¹ 1556–
• desertless, adj.² 1822–
• desertlessly, adv. 1619–
• desertness, n. a1400–
• desert oak, n. 1896–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, entry history for desertion, n..

desertion, n. was first published in 1895; not yet revised.

desertion, n. was last modified in September 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

• corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into desertion, n. in September 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1895)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View desertion in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for desertion, n., browse entry.

Definition of 'desertion'

Desertion in british english.

desertion in American English

Examples of 'desertion' in a sentence desertion, synonyms of 'desertion', cobuild collocations desertion, trends of desertion.

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Meaning of desert in English

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• The flatness of the desert was broken only by a few large piles of rocks .
• She gave a hair-raising account of her escape through the desert.
• Living rough in the desert hardened the recruits a lot.
• The terrorists assumed control of the plane and forced it to land in the desert.
• At night , adult scorpions prowl the desert for insects .
• alpine tundra
• marginal land
• the Gobi Desert

desert verb ( RUN AWAY )

• absent without leave
• buy someone out
• call someone up
• conscription
• draft dodger
• re-enlistment

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

desert verb ( LEAVE BEHIND )

• abandon ship
• abandonment
• absquatulate
• peel away/off
• pull something off
• turf something out
• walk off (somewhere)

desert | American Dictionary

Examples of desert, collocations with desert.

These are words often used in combination with desert .

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Translations of desert

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What Is Desertion in Marriage & 5 Reasons Why It Occurs

The Marriage.com Editorial Team is a group of experienced relationship writers, experts, and mental health professionals. We provide practical and research-backed advice on relationships. Our content is thoroughly reviewed by experts to ensure that we offer high-quality and reliable relationship advice.

In This Article

It is quite well-known that every romantic relationship , especially marriage, is characterized by various phases. After that wonderful honeymoon stage of the marriage or relationship is over , the complexity of marriage starts shining through.

But there is quite a distinct difference in the various consequences or outcomes that can stem from facing difficulties in marriages . There’s the occurrence of desertion in marriage.

Other grave consequences may include a separation between married partners and even divorce.

And although separation and divorce are two commonly heard concepts, what is desertion in marriage? What are the causes of desertion in marriage? Are there signs? What are the distinct differences between separation and desertion?

These are probably the most commonly asked questions regarding desertion in marriage.

If you want to learn more about desertion in marriage and other important concepts under desertion in marriage, just read on!

Desertion in marriage: What does it mean?

So, what does desertion mean in a marriage? Having a clear understanding of the concept of desertion in marriages is a great place to start.

Once you understand the legal meaning of desertion in marriages, it will be easier to grasp the other concepts related to desertion.

When a married individual wilfully abandons their obligations or duties, especially to their significant other (the partner married to them) or their child, it is called desertion in marriage.

Although every state or country has its definition of the concept of desertion in marriage, the aforementioned definition is a good general outline of the concept.

So, desertion by husband or wife happens when either one of the spouses leaves their family home and the relationship without letting their partner know about this . It happens suddenly and without the consent of the other spouse.

What further complicates the concept of desertion in marriages is the involvement of children in that marriage. Some states can charge the partner who has deserted the marriage with criminal abandonment.

If the spouse is charged with criminal abandonment, their partner can even use this charge as a solid ground for a fault divorce .

The differences between desertion and separation

One of the key differences between separation in marriage and desertion lies in the basic definition of these two terms.

• Desertion happens when one spouse leaves the marriage without consent or without communicating (about leaving) to the partner. Separation is different from desertion in marriage.

In separation, both partners involved in the marriage make a mutual decision about leaving. In separation, even if there isn’t a mutual agreement about leaving, the spouse that intends to leave informs the other partner.

• When it comes to desertion, the partner who has abandoned their significant other and children (if any) and quit their duties and obligations towards the family does not intend to return. 

When it comes to separation, it gets more complicated. Couples who are separating talk about how long they want to be separated. Separation can lead to a divorce , but that’s not the only possible outcome.

A couple may even decide to work on their differences and reunite after separation. When it comes to separation, important matters like childcare, finances, etc., are also discussed between married partners.

• Another significant difference between desertion in marriage and separation is the divorce aspect of these concepts. Desertion as a ground for divorce is a likely outcome of desertion if it is criminal desertion.

As already mentioned, divorce can be one of the outcomes of separation but not the only outcome of separation between married couples.

Desertion in marriage: How long is it?

Now that you’re well aware of what desertion is in marriage and how desertion grounds for divorce work, let’s take a look at how desertion lasts.

Desertion is a solid ground for a fault divorce is already mentioned. Divorce is one of the main outcomes of desertion in marriage. However, desertion or abandonment comes with its share of criteria.

Apart from the criteria already mentioned about desertion, another important criterion of desertion is the duration of such abandonment.

A vast majority of states have mandated that the abandonment by the spouse must last for a particular period to be granted desertion divorce. This duration of abandonment varies according to the state.

However, the period of abandonment must be continuous, and it usually varies between one year and five years . However, the most commonly mandated duration is a year.

Apart from the period of separation being continuous or uninterrupted, it is also essential to prove to the court that the abandonment occurred without the knowledge or consent of the spouse that has been abandoned.

The top signs of desertion

The peculiar thing about desertion is that it usually comes out of the blue. It is unexpected and shocking for the spouse and children (if any) if it happens. Therefore, it is quite difficult to be on the lookout for signs of desertion.

However, some definite signs of psychological abandonment can be identified in partners, which may serve as a precursor for desertion.

Let us now take a look at some of the top signs of psychological desertion in marriages. These signs include:

A prominent absence of physical togetherness

An imbalance in the amount of time dedicated to a marriage by the partners is difficult to deal with. If one partner dedicates a lot of their time and attention to the marriage but the other partner doesn’t, there is a prominent lack of physical togetherness.

If a partner feels like their spouse doesn’t care about them or the partner feels lonely or the only one in the marriage, these may all be signs of psychological abandonment.

Denial is a strong indicator of psychological abandonment

If a spouse resorts to denial for dealing with most of their issues, including relationship problems or marriage conflicts , then there is a high possibility that they might be psychologically abandoning their partner.

You feel that your partner is self-centered

If your partner has distanced themselves from you, which may be prominent from the absence of physical togetherness or the rampant usage of denial by your partner, you will begin to feel psychologically abandoned.

This happens because you feel your partner is in their own world, only thinking about themselves.

Silence and one-sided conversations are common

Communication will be another challenge in a marriage lacking any sort of intimacy . The partner who has been psychologically abandoned may feel like they have no one to talk to at all. The conversations may feel one-sided , and the silence may feel never-ending.

5 reasons why desertion occurs in marriages

Let’s take a look at some of the common causes of desertion in marriages:

1. The inability to get divorced in any other way

Although this reason for desertion might sound quite strange, it is possible. Desertion by a wife or husband can occur in situations where it is impossible to get a divorce.

For instance, if an individual is dealing with a partner who is extremely ill and needs constant care, the couple will most likely not be granted divorce by the court . So, in such cases, desertion can occur.

2. It has become impossible for the husband or wife to stay in the marriage

This is a reason for constructive desertion in marriages. If a man has made living situations impossible and torturous for his wife, then his wife can abandon him on the grounds of constructive desertion.

3. Physical cruelty and mental cruelty

Desertion in marriages also occurs if a spouse is being threatened and tortured physically and/or mentally and discussing separating is hence, out of the question.

4. Unforeseen financial issues

If a person who is responsible for financially supporting the family suddenly finds themselves unable to support their family because of unforeseen money problems , they may choose to escape from the situation.

The shame or feelings of inadequacy can push people to behave in unexpected ways.

5. Infidelity

Another popular cause of desertion is an extramarital affair (usually involving the spouse who will abandon the marriage).

How to effectively deal with desertion in marriages

Desertion can be heartbreaking. Check out the ways to deal with desertion:

Don’t blame yourself

When it comes to dealing with desertion in marriages, it is essential not to blame yourself for what has happened. Be patient with yourself.

Practice self-love

Being suddenly abandoned can hurt your self-esteem and confidence . But it isn’t on you. Remember that. Investing precious time in yourself is key. Focus on your own mental and physical health.

Opt for counseling

Apart from taking legal action, a great way to kick start your journey of self-care and self-growth is by opting for counseling. You can begin with counseling, but you can also consider psychotherapy .

Dealing with desertion in marriage is an uphill battle, but you can emerge victorious if you focus on yourself and work on yourself. Consider focusing on your mental health through therapy or counseling , and remember not to blame yourself.

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The Marriage.com Editorial Team is a group of experienced relationship writers, experts, and mental health professionals. We provide practical and research-backed advice on relationships. Our content is thoroughly reviewed by experts Read more to ensure that we offer high-quality and reliable relationship advice. Read less

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Amidst Prolonged Conflict: The Escalating Desertion Crisis in Russia’s Military Ranks

Posted: June 6, 2024 | Last updated: June 6, 2024

In an ongoing war that has stretched for more than two years, a significant and growing number of Russian soldiers are deserting their posts amid the conflict with Ukraine, according to recent reports from Ukraine's military intelligence agency.

This comes as the war, initiated by President Vladimir Putin, continues to see heavy casualties and intense fighting, particularly in the east of Ukraine.

Ukraine's military intelligence agency, known as HUR, highlighted that troops from Russia's Southern Military District are increasingly deserting.

The HUR claimed that more than 18,000 Russian servicemen have fled, with around 12,000 belonging to the 8th Combined Arms Army, a unit regularly engaged in hostilities.

Additionally, about 2,500 troops are reported to have deserted from the Russian 58th Combined Arms Army.

Desertion has been a persistent issue for the Russian military throughout the conflict.

In November 2022, the British Defense Ministry even suggested that Kremlin generals may have sanctioned the use of lethal force against deserters.

The grave consequences of desertion, carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence, do not seem to deter the Russian soldiers from abandoning their posts.

A Russian anti-war project named "Get Lost", created to help Russian men evade conscription, has noted a tenfold increase in desertion cases this year.

A Russian serviceman, identified only as Ivan, gave insight into the desperation and lengths soldiers go to escape the battlefield.

"Desertion is as hard as it ever was and it all depends on where the soldier is," he said, acknowledging the risks involved, including criminal consequences.

Some soldiers take extreme measures, like feigning death or injuring themselves to reach a hospital from where they can flee.

The UK has also highlighted Russia's substantial military losses.

Armed Forces Minister Leo Doherty suggested that approximately 450,000 Russian military personnel have been killed or wounded, with "tens of thousands more" deserting.

Moscow is also believed to have lost almost 3,000 tanks and a considerable number of aircraft, vehicles, and naval vessels.

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“Desert” vs. “Dessert”: When To Use Each One

• Quick Summary
• What Is A Desert?
• What Is Dessert?
• Just Deserts or Just Desserts?
• How To Use Them

Let’s be honest: desert vs. dessert is a spelling issue, not a definition issue. It’s easy to tell the difference between the Sahara and a chocolate cake (even a dry chocolate cake). But when should you use one S and when should you use two? That extra S could be the difference between mounds of sand and mounds of ice cream—and that’s an important difference!

In this article, we’ll break down the origin of and different meanings of each word and give you tips on how to remember the right spelling every time. And we’ll sort out the exception just deserts , where deserts is spelled with one S in the middle but pronounced like dessert (you might have thought otherwise, but trust us on this one—we’re a dictionary).

⚡️ Quick summary

Desert , spelled with one S , refers to a dry region. Dessert , spelled with two S ’s, refers to a sweet dish eaten after a meal. Sometimes, though, desert is an entirely different word referring to what you deserve, especially in the phrase just deserts. 

What is a desert ?

A desert  pronounced [ dez -ert ] is “a large, dry, barren region, usually having sandy or rocky soil and little or no vegetation.” You’re probably familiar with some of the world’s famous deserts , such as the Sahara in northern Africa (the largest in the world), the Kalahari in southern Africa, the Gobi in Mongolia and China, and the Mojave in California.

Although people often think of deserts as hot (and most of the best-known deserts are), they can be cold, too. The essential criterion for a place to be considered a desert is a lack of precipitation . Some extremely cold regions can sometimes be very dry. Much of Antarctica, for example, is a desert.

What else does desert mean?

Desert can also be used in a figurative way to refer to any place that’s very dry (and hot), as in Wow, I’m thirsty—it feels like a desert out here . It can also be used in a more metaphorical way to refer to a place that is isolated or barren in some way. For example, the term food desert is sometimes used to refer to a place with a lack of access to affordable, healthy food.

Desert can also be used as a verb meaning “to abandon” or “to leave a place without intending to return,” as in The settlers are planning to desert the village. The related adjective deserted means “abandoned” or “having no inhabitants,” as in The whole place was deserted. As a verb, desert can also mean to “leave one’s duty,” and a person who does this can be called a deserter.

Here’s where things get a bit tricky: when desert is used as a verb, it’s pronounced the same as dessert [ dih- zurt  ].

The unrelated noun deserts in the phrase just deserts is also pronounced like desserts. More on that soon.

Where does the word desert come from?

The noun desert (meaning “a dry region”) comes from a Middle English word meaning “barren” or “dried up,” from the Old French des(s)ert, meaning “without inhabitants .” It ultimately comes from the Latin verb dēserere, which means “to abandon or forsake” and is also the root of the verb desert . This makes sense, because deserts are known for being barren and deserted.

What is dessert ?

Dessert  pronounced [ dih- zurt ]  is “the sweet, usually last course of a meal.” We’re talking cake, pie, ice cream, pudding, fudge, fruit—you know what dessert is. Dessert is most commonly eaten after dinner, but it’s sometimes eaten after lunch, too. A sweet snack in the middle of the day? You could call that dessert , but usually when we use the word dessert , we’re referring to a sweet dish that follows a meal. After you eat a meal at a restaurant, your server might ask, “Would anyone like some dessert ?” (The answer is yes.)

Where does the word dessert come from?

Dessert comes from the French desservir, meaning “to clear the table” (essentially to  dis- and  serve ). That’s an interesting way to think of it— dessert is what you eat after the table has been cleared following a meal.

Is it just deserts or just desserts ?

Things get a bit more complicated with the phrase just deserts , which means “what’s rightfully deserved ,” especially as a consequence for having done something wrong. For example, you might say He won’t get away with this forever—he’ll get his just deserts.

In just deserts, deserts is pronounced the same as desserts , but is spelled with only one S in the middle. That’s because it’s related to the word deserve. Both it and deserve come from the Old French verb deservir, meaning “to deserve.”

You deserve to know even more about the phrase just deserts , so check out this article.

How to use desert vs. dessert

If you’re struggling to remember how to spell each word, think of the two S ’s in dessert as standing for sugary sweets, with the one S in desert standing for sand.

When you’re using the phrase just deserts, remember that it’s spelled with one S in the middle, just like deserve.

Examples of desert and dessert used in a sentence

Here are some examples of how you might hear the words desert and dessert used in real life.

• The desert is not completely barren—many specialized animals make their home there.
• I didn’t mean to desert you when you needed me most.
• For dessert , I made an ice cream cake.
• This restaurant has the fanciest desserts —let’s order several.
• He got his just deserts when his prank backfired on him.

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Speaking of desserts, have you wondered whether cheesecake is actually a cake? Read about that debate now.

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