DRYNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dryness mean? 

• DRYNESS (noun)
  The noun DRYNESS has 3 senses:

1. the condition of not containing or being covered by a liquid (especially water)

2. moderation in or abstinence from alcohol or other drugs

3. objectivity and detachment

  Familiarity information: DRYNESS used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DRYNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The condition of not containing or being covered by a liquid (especially water)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

dryness; waterlessness; xerotes

Hypernyms ("dryness" is a kind of...):

condition; status (a state at a particular time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "dryness"):

dehydration; desiccation (dryness resulting from the removal of water)

drought; drouth (a shortage of rainfall)

aridity; aridness; thirstiness (a deficiency of moisture (especially when resulting from a permanent absence of rainfall))

sereness (a withered dryness)

conjunctivitis arida; xeroma; xerophthalmia; xerophthalmus (abnormal dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eyes; may be due to a systemic deficiency of vitamin A)

dry mouth; xerostomia (abnormal dryness of the mouth resulting from decreased secretion of saliva)

Antonym:

wetness (the condition of containing or being covered by a liquid (especially water))

Derivation:

dry (without a mucous or watery discharge)

dry (not shedding tears)

dry (free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet)

dry (not producing milk)

dry (lacking moisture or volatile components)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Moderation in or abstinence from alcohol or other drugs

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

dryness; sobriety

Hypernyms ("dryness" is a kind of...):

moderation; temperance (the trait of avoiding excesses)

Derivation:

dry (practicing complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Objectivity and detachment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

dispassion; dispassionateness; dryness

Context example:

her manner assumed a dispassion and dryness very unlike her usual tone

Hypernyms ("dryness" is a kind of...):

emotionlessness; unemotionality (absence of emotion)

Derivation:

dry (lacking warmth or emotional involvement)

dry (humorously sarcastic or mocking)

 Context examples 

When Elinor had ceased to rejoice in the dryness of the season, a very awful pause took place.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

A disorder characterized by dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva.

(Dry Eye Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

A question about an individual's distress related to their physical problems with skin dryness or itchiness.

(Distress over Physical Problem with Dry or Itchy Skin, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about an individual's distress related to their physical problems with nose dryness or congestion.

(Distress over Physical Problem with Dry or Congested Nose, NCI Thesaurus)

“You are too young for strong waters,” she said, “but this talking gives one a dryness, and—”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Upon application of the drops into the eye, carboxymethylcellulose sodium lubricates the eye and prevents or relieves dryness and irritation.

(Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium-containing Eye Drop, NCI Thesaurus)

Even at that time, I had not conquered my aversions to the dryness of a life of study.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

A syndrome characterized by dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva.

(Dry Eye Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

Corneal and conjunctival dryness due to deficient tear production, predominantly in menopausal and post-menopausal women.

(Dry Eye Syndrome, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Upon application to the inside lining of the mouth, muscarinic agonist APD515 may locally act on muscarinic receptors on the salivary glands and may stimulate the production of saliva thereby relieving dryness of the mouth.

(Muscarinic Agonist APD515, NCI Thesaurus)