English Meaning & Definitions
Plural form of desert; arid, barren regions of land that receive very little precipitation.
- “The Sahara and the Gobi are two of the world's most famous deserts.”
- “Many specialized plants have evolved to survive the harsh conditions of high-altitude deserts.”
Third-person singular present of desert; to abandon a person, place, or organization in a way considered disloyal or treacherous.
- “He deserts his post whenever the work becomes too challenging.”
- “The soldier deserts his unit during the heat of the battle.”
Used in the phrase 'just deserts' to refer to the punishment or reward that is considered right and appropriate for someone.
- “After years of fraud, the criminal finally received his just deserts in court.”
- “The hero was given his just deserts in the form of a national commendation.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “deserts”.
Derived from the Latin 'desertum', meaning 'that which is abandoned', from the past participle of 'deserere' (to abandon, forsake). The noun form referring to arid regions shares this root, while the plural noun form 'just deserts' comes from the Old French 'deservir' (to deserve), meaning 'what one merits'.
Think of a desert as a place where people have 'deserted' (left) the land.
Frequently Asked Questions About “deserts”
1. What is the meaning of “deserts” in English?
In English, deserts (noun) is defined as: “Plural form of desert; arid, barren regions of land that receive very little precipitation.”.
2. How do you use “deserts” in a sentence?
“The Sahara and the Gobi are two of the world's most famous deserts.”
3. What are English synonyms of “deserts”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “deserts”?
Derived from the Latin 'desertum', meaning 'that which is abandoned', from the past participle of 'deserere' (to abandon, forsake). The noun form referring to arid regions shares this root, while the plural noun form 'just deserts' comes from the Old French 'deservir' (to deserve), meaning 'what one merits'.
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