[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/desert/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [D](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/d/) / desert # desert noun (a desert, deserts) — said «DEZ-ert»; verb (desert, deserts, deserted, deserting) — said «di-ZURT» «desert» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A desert (DEZ-ert) is a large area of land that gets very little rain, so few plants grow; it may be sandy, rocky, hot or cold. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/#m1) 2. To desert (di-ZURT) someone or somewhere is to leave and not come back, when you should stay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/#m2) 3. A deserted place has nobody in it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/#m3) ### In the lessons In geography and science, deserts include the Sahara (hot, Africa), the Mojave (USA), the Great Victoria Desert (Australia) and Antarctica (the largest — a cold desert). Desert plants like cacti store water; animals like camels and lizards are adapted to heat and little water. In safety, deserts are hot by day and can be cold at night; carry water and sun protection. Phrases: «desert island», «deserted street». ### Examples - The Sahara is a huge hot desert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/#x1) - Cacti grow in the desert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/#x2) - Camels can go days without water in the desert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/#x3) - Antarctica is a cold desert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/#x4) - Take lots of water when you visit the desert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/#x5) - The soldier deserted his post. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/#x6) - The beach was deserted in winter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/#x7) - Imagine you are on a desert island. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/#x8) - Now the desert lies behind them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/#x9) ### Note Trap: «desert» (one s, dry land) vs «dessert» (two s, the sweet course after dinner) — remember «dessert has two sugars». Deserts are not always hot or sandy; what makes a desert is very little rain. ## In Jewish tradition In the Torah it means the wilderness, a dry and empty land where Israel traveled for forty years. **Interpretation.** Tradition sees the desert as the place where Israel received the Torah at Sinai and learned to trust God. Some teachers say the Torah was given there because the desert belongs to no one. ### Examples - And Balak took Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh down upon the desert. (Torah NUM.23.28, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/desert/#x1) - and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, by the top of Pisgah, which looketh down upon the desert. (Torah NUM.21.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/desert/#x2) - He found him in a desert land, and in the waste, a howling wilderness; He compassed him about, He cared for him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. (Torah DEU.32.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/desert/#x3) - But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tried God in the desert. (Writings PSA.106.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/desert/#x4) - I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (Prophets ISA.43.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/desert/#x5) - They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way; they found no city of habitation. (Writings PSA.107.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/desert/#x6) ### Note Trap: «desert» (one s, dry land) vs «dessert» (two s, the sweet course after dinner) — remember «dessert has two sugars». Deserts are not always hot or sandy; what makes a desert is very little rain. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «desert» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/desert/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«desert» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/desert.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «desert» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/desert/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«desert» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/desert.html) on Mova free.