Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To become completely dry, often through the process of losing all moisture or water content.
   • To stop being productive, plentiful, or available; to cease or disappear.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To cause something to become completely dry by removing its moisture.

Usage and Examples

• Intransitive Verb (Literal Meaning):

  • If you don't water the plants, the soil will dry up.
  • The river dried up during the long drought.

• Intransitive Verb (Figurative Meaning):

  • My inspiration for the project suddenly dried up.
  • Funding for the arts program has dried up.

• Transitive Verb (Often used in cooking or cleaning):

  • Dry up the dishes and put them away.
  • The sun will quickly dry up the puddles.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "to dry up" (of a person): To stop talking, often because of nervousness or forgetfulness.
  • The actor dried up in the middle of his monologue.
• "to dry up" (of a supply): To be exhausted or no longer provided.
  • Tourist traffic dries up in the winter months.

Variants and Related Words

• Dryer/Drier (n): An appliance or machine for removing moisture.
• Dryness (n): The state or quality of being dry.
• Dry (adj/verb): The base form, meaning free from moisture or to make something dry.

Synonyms

• Dehydrate: To lose a large amount of water from the body or an object.
• Desiccate: To remove the moisture from something, often completely.
• Wither: To become dry and shriveled, often used for plants.
• Evaporate: To turn from liquid into vapor.
• Parch: To make dry and hot, often related to land or thirst.

Phrasal Verbs and Related Constructions

• Dry out: To become completely dry or to recover from alcohol addiction (idiomatic).
  • We need to let the wood dry out before we paint it.
• Dry off: To remove moisture from a surface, often by wiping.
  • Dry off the table with this towel.

Related Idioms

• Run dry: To have no more of something left; to be exhausted.
  • After the scandal, public sympathy for the politician ran dry.
• High and dry: In a difficult situation without help or resources.
  • The canceled flight left hundreds of passengers high and dry.

Verb

1. dry up and shrivel due to complete loss of moisture
   • a mummified body was found
2. lose water or moisture
   • In the desert, you get dehydrated very quickly