# desert

/ˈdɛzɝt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/desert
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. dry land

noun · CEFR A2

a large, dry area of land with very little water or many plants.

For teachers: a barren, arid region of land characterized by extremely low rainfall and sparse vegetation.

- The camel is well-adapted to surviving the heat of the desert.
- The expedition struggled to navigate the vast expanse of the Sahara desert as the sandstorms obscured their landmarks.

### 2. deserved reward or punishment

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary · Formal

what someone deserves, especially a punishment for doing something wrong.

For teachers: that which is deserved or merited, typically used in the plural to refer to just consequences.

- After years of lying to his partners, he finally got his just deserts.
- The villain's ultimate downfall in the final act was seen by the audience as his just deserts for a lifetime of cruelty.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in the plural phrase 'just deserts'.

### 3. to abandon

verb · CEFR B2

to leave someone or something behind, especially when you have a duty to stay.

For teachers: to abandon a person, place, or cause in violation of a duty or obligation.

- The soldier decided to desert his post during the middle of the night.
- He felt that his friends had deserted him in his hour of greatest need, leaving him to face the crisis alone.

### 4. to leave a military unit

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to leave the army or navy without permission.

For teachers: to leave one's military or naval unit without intending to return and without official leave.

- He was arrested after he tried to desert from the army and go home.
- During the height of the conflict, several hundred soldiers chose to desert rather than participate in the offensive.

Usage: The verb is intransitive in this specific military context.

## Examples

- The camel walked slowly across the hot desert.
- Travelers must carry plenty of water when crossing the desert to avoid dehydration in the extreme heat.
- While many imagine the desert as a vast expanse of shifting sand dunes, much of the terrain actually consists of rocky plateaus and sparse, hardy scrubland.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.