Dry rot

Dry rot
Dry Dry (dr[imac]), a. [Compar. {Drier}; superl. {Driest}.] [OE. dru[yogh]e, druye, drie, AS. dryge; akin to LG. dr["o]ge, D. droog, OHG. trucchan, G. trocken, Icel. draugr a dry log. Cf. {Drought}, {Drouth}, 3d {Drug}.] 1. Free from moisture; having little humidity or none; arid; not wet or moist; deficient in the natural or normal supply of moisture, as rain or fluid of any kind; -- said especially: (a) Of the weather: Free from rain or mist. [1913 Webster]

The weather, we agreed, was too dry for the season. --Addison. (b) Of vegetable matter: Free from juices or sap; not succulent; not green; as, dry wood or hay. (c) Of animals: Not giving milk; as, the cow is dry. (d) Of persons: Thirsty; needing drink. [1913 Webster]

Give the dry fool drink. -- Shak (e) Of the eyes: Not shedding tears. [1913 Webster]

Not a dry eye was to be seen in the assembly. -- Prescott. (f) (Med.) Of certain morbid conditions, in which there is entire or comparative absence of moisture; as, dry gangrene; dry catarrh. [1913 Webster]

2. Destitute of that which interests or amuses; barren; unembellished; jejune; plain. [1913 Webster]

These epistles will become less dry, more susceptible of ornament. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

3. Characterized by a quality somewhat severe, grave, or hard; hence, sharp; keen; shrewd; quaint; as, a dry tone or manner; dry wit. [1913 Webster]

He was rather a dry, shrewd kind of body. --W. Irving. [1913 Webster]

4. (Fine Arts) Exhibiting a sharp, frigid preciseness of execution, or the want of a delicate contour in form, and of easy transition in coloring. [1913 Webster]

{Dry area} (Arch.), a small open space reserved outside the foundation of a building to guard it from damp.

{Dry blow}. (a) (Med.) A blow which inflicts no wound, and causes no effusion of blood. (b) A quick, sharp blow.

{Dry bone} (Min.), Smithsonite, or carbonate of zinc; -- a miner's term.

{Dry castor} (Zo["o]l.) a kind of beaver; -- called also {parchment beaver}.

{Dry cupping}. (Med.) See under {Cupping}.

{Dry dock}. See under {Dock}.

{Dry fat}. See {Dry vat} (below).

{Dry light}, pure unobstructed light; hence, a clear, impartial view. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

The scientific man must keep his feelings under stern control, lest they obtrude into his researches, and color the dry light in which alone science desires to see its objects. -- J. C. Shairp.

{Dry masonry}. See {Masonry}.

{Dry measure}, a system of measures of volume for dry or coarse articles, by the bushel, peck, etc.

{Dry pile} (Physics), a form of the Voltaic pile, constructed without the use of a liquid, affording a feeble current, and chiefly useful in the construction of electroscopes of great delicacy; -- called also {Zamboni's}, from the names of the two earliest constructors of it.

{Dry pipe} (Steam Engine), a pipe which conducts dry steam from a boiler.

{Dry plate} (Photog.), a glass plate having a dry coating sensitive to light, upon which photographic negatives or pictures can be made, without moistening.

{Dry-plate process}, the process of photographing with dry plates.

{Dry point}. (Fine Arts) (a) An engraving made with the needle instead of the burin, in which the work is done nearly as in etching, but is finished without the use acid. (b) A print from such an engraving, usually upon paper. (c) Hence: The needle with which such an engraving is made.

{Dry rent} (Eng. Law), a rent reserved by deed, without a clause of distress. --Bouvier.

{Dry rot}, a decay of timber, reducing its fibers to the condition of a dry powdery dust, often accompanied by the presence of a peculiar fungus ({Merulius lacrymans}), which is sometimes considered the cause of the decay; but it is more probable that the real cause is the decomposition of the wood itself. --D. C. Eaton. Called also {sap rot}, and, in the United States, {powder post}. --Hebert.

{Dry stove}, a hothouse adapted to preserving the plants of arid climates. --Brande & C.

{Dry vat}, a vat, basket, or other receptacle for dry articles.

{Dry wine}, that in which the saccharine matter and fermentation were so exactly balanced, that they have wholly neutralized each other, and no sweetness is perceptible; -- opposed to {sweet wine}, in which the saccharine matter is in excess. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Dry rot — Rot Rot, n. 1. Process of rotting; decay; putrefaction. [1913 Webster] 2. (Bot.) A disease or decay in fruits, leaves, or wood, supposed to be caused by minute fungi. See {Bitter rot}, {Black rot}, etc., below. [1913 Webster] 3. [Cf. G. rotz… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Dry Rot — Données clés Réalisation Maurice Elvey Scénario John Roy Chapman Acteurs principaux Ronald Shiner Brian Rix Peggy Mount Sociétés de production Remus Films Ltd. Pays d’origine …   Wikipédia en Français

  • dry rot — n. 1. a fungous decay causing seasoned timber to become brittle and crumble to powder 2. a similar fungous disease of plants, fruits, and vegetables 3. any of various fungi causing such decay 4. any internal moral or social decay, thought of as… …   English World dictionary

  • dry rot — dry′ rot′ n. 1) ppa a) a decay of seasoned timber, resulting in its becoming brittle and crumbling to a dry powder, caused by various fungi b) ppa any of various diseases of plants in which the rotted tissues are dry 2) any concealed or… …   From formal English to slang

  • dry rot — n [U] a disease in wood that turns it into powder …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • dry rot — noun uncount a disease that destroys wood …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • dry rot — ► NOUN ▪ a fungus causing decay of wood in poorly ventilated conditions …   English terms dictionary

  • Dry rot — This entry refers to the term dry rot rather than any given species of fungi or specific process of material degradation. As noted, the term is applied to different species of fungi in different regions. For the 1956 film, see Dry Rot (film)… …   Wikipedia

  • dry-rot — /druy rot /, v.i., v.t., dry rotted, dry rotting. to undergo or cause to undergo the action or effects of dry rot. [1865 70] * * * …   Universalium

  • dry-rot — verb Date: 1870 transitive verb to affect with dry rot intransitive verb to become affected with dry rot …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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