desert2

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noun

• a dry, barren area of land, especially one covered with sand, that is characteristically desolate, waterless, and without vegetation.
• a situation or area considered dull and uninteresting:a cultural desert

adjective

[attributive]

• like a desert:overgrazing has created desert conditions
• uninhabited and desolate:desert wastes

Derivatives

desertic

adjective

Origin:

Middle English: via Old French from late Latin desertum 'something left waste', neuter past participle of deserere 'leave, forsake'

Do not confuse desert with dessert. Desert means 'a waterless, empty area' (the Sahara Desert) or 'leave someone or something' (he deserted her for another woman), whereas dessert means 'the sweet course of a meal' (an ice cream dessert).