desiccated ground

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "desiccated ground" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe soil or land that has become extremely dry, often due to lack of moisture or drought conditions. Example: "After months without rain, the once fertile fields had turned into desiccated ground, cracking under the relentless sun."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The desiccated ground beneath us was an important factor in the deadly Malibu and Woolsey fires.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Dust storms swept across the desiccated soil.

The New Yorker

Over geological time, this oddity has allowed complex life to survive and evolve despite the Earth's successive ice ages, periods when fragile life forms would have otherwise been wiped out on the desiccated, frozen ground and – if water behaved like a normal liquid – in solidified seas, too.

The Guardian

Some things are green, but the ground is desiccated.

The New York Times

I will ingest that raw, cooked or ground and desiccated in capsule form.

Huffington Post

On the lumpy ground in broken and desiccated grasses, we lay sobbing, trying to catch our breaths.

Vice

The desiccated gel containing recombinant protein was ground to a powder, dissolved in 1 mL of water, and mixed with 1 mL of complete Freund's adjuvant (Merck, Whitehouse Station, NJ).

BioMed Research International

Nematodes (about 3,000 5,000) were desiccated in glass desiccation chambers.

BMC Genomics

Lake Chad has recently been perceived to be completely desiccated and almost extinct due to insufficient published ground observations.

Journal of Hydrology

4 cups (560g) plain flour 1 cup (170g) semolina 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp ground cardamom (optional) 1 cup (175g) desiccated coconut 1 tbsp hot oil ¾ cup (175ml) water, as hot as you can bear it Oil for deep frying 1½ cups (350ml) water 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar Mix dry ingredients, then rub in hot oil.

The Guardian - Books

Bits of encrusted dirt and mud are rubbed from your eyelids, as fingers crumble from your desiccated hand, scattered by the wind across the dry, dusty ground.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing environmental conditions, use "desiccated ground" to vividly portray the impact of drought or extreme heat on landscapes.

Common error

Avoid using "desiccated ground" metaphorically when describing emotional or social situations, as it is primarily suited for describing physical landscapes affected by dryness. For figurative contexts, consider alternatives like "barren environment" or "lifeless atmosphere".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "desiccated ground" functions primarily as a descriptive noun phrase, where the adjective "desiccated" modifies the noun "ground". It vividly depicts soil or earth that has become extremely dry due to lack of moisture. Ludwig AI confirms this with real-world examples, highlighting its appropriate usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

38%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "desiccated ground" is a grammatically correct and descriptive term used to portray extremely dry or parched land. Ludwig AI confirms its use is appropriate in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic writings. While not incorrect, metaphorical usages should be approached with care, opting for alternatives such as "lifeless atmosphere". The most authoritative sources using this phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian, and The New Yorker. Remember to use "desiccated ground" when you want to vividly describe landscapes affected by drought or extreme heat.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

parched land

Replaces "desiccated" with "parched", focusing on the thirst-like quality of the land.

parched earth

Uses "parched" instead of "desiccated" and "earth" instead of "ground".

dehydrated soil

Uses "dehydrated" which is a direct synonym of desiccated and "soil" which is a direct synonym of "ground".

arid soil

Substitutes "desiccated" with "arid" and "ground" with "soil", emphasizing dryness and the material composition.

dried-up earth

Uses "dried-up" instead of "desiccated" and "earth" in place of "ground", providing a more informal tone.

barren terrain

Replaces both words with terms conveying a lack of life and productivity due to dryness.

bone-dry ground

Emphasizes the extreme level of dryness using a more figurative expression.

sun-baked soil

Highlights the cause of desiccation, emphasizing the impact of the sun.

waterless terrain

Focuses on the absence of water as the defining characteristic.

extremely dry land

A more literal and descriptive alternative.

FAQs

How can I use "desiccated ground" in a sentence?

You can use "desiccated ground" to describe landscapes affected by drought, such as, "The wildfire spread quickly across the "desiccated ground"." Or you can say "After months without rain, the once fertile fields had turned into "desiccated ground", cracking under the relentless sun."

What are some synonyms for "desiccated ground"?

Some synonyms for "desiccated ground" include "parched land", "arid soil", and "dried-up earth".

Is it appropriate to use "desiccated ground" metaphorically?

While primarily used to describe literal dryness of land, using "desiccated ground" metaphorically is not common. It's better to use "lifeless atmosphere" or "barren environment" when describing a situation.

What causes "desiccated ground"?

"Desiccated ground" is typically caused by a lack of rainfall, prolonged exposure to sunlight, and high temperatures, which lead to the evaporation of moisture from the soil.