English · Word Candidate

desert

/ˈdɛz.ət/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: deserts · deserting · deserted

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with little water or vegetation; a wasteland.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Khu vực đất cằn cỗi hoặc địa hình hoang vu

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

And ye poore Pilgrimes, that vvith reſtleſſe toyle VVearie your ſelues in vvandring deſert vvayes […]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with little water or vegetation; a wasteland. — In particular, a barren, arid area of land which is hot, with sandy, rocky, or parched ground.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Khu vực đất cằn cỗi hoặc địa hình hoang vu

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

It is wholly out of the power of language to convey any idea of the blissful enjoyment of obtaining water, after an almost total want of it, during eight and forty hours, in the scorching regions of an Arabian desert, in the month of July.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Usually of a place: abandoned, deserted, or uninhabited.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Nơi bị bỏ hoang, bỏ rơi hoặc không có người

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

They were marooned on a desert island in the Pacific.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

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.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Bỏ rơi, từ bỏ hoặc bỏ mặc

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

You can't just drive off and desert me here, in the middle of nowhere.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “desert” mean?

A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with little water or vegetation; a wasteland.

Is “desert” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.