dehydrate
C1Formal, Technical, Medical, Culinary
Definition
Meaning
To remove water from something, causing it to dry out.
To lose a large amount of water from one's body, leading to a state of deficiency harmful to health. Can also refer to the process of preserving food by removing its moisture.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb 'dehydrate' often implies a complete or thorough removal of water for a specific purpose (preservation, concentration) or as an unwanted physiological state. It is the direct opposite of 'hydrate'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic differences. Spelling and usage are identical.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both technical and general contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[TRANSITIVE] They will dehydrate the mushrooms for storage.[INTRANSITIVE] Runners can dehydrate rapidly in this heat.[PASSIVE/ADJECTIVAL] The patient was dangerously dehydrated.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not common for this word; more literal use]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used in the food processing industry: 'The company invested in new machinery to dehydrate fruits more efficiently.'
Academic
Common in biology, chemistry, medicine, and food science texts discussing water removal or physiological states.
Everyday
Common in health warnings and cooking: 'Don't forget to drink water, or you'll dehydrate.' 'I'm going to dehydrate these apple slices for a snack.'
Technical
The primary register. Used precisely in medical diagnoses ('The infant presented with dehydrated mucosa'), laboratory procedures, and food preservation technology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The summer heat can quickly dehydrate an unprotected hiker.
- We dehydrate surplus herbs from the garden to use in winter.
American English
- The sports drink is designed to rehydrate athletes who dehydrate during games.
- You can dehydrate tomatoes in a low oven for about eight hours.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form. 'In a dehydrated state' is used instead.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form. 'In a dehydrated state' is used instead.]
adjective
British English
- The dehydrated meals are surprisingly tasty for camping.
- He was admitted to hospital in a severely dehydrated state.
American English
- Dehydrated milk powder has a long shelf life.
- Feeling lightheaded is a classic sign of being dehydrated.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Drink water when it's hot, or you can dehydrate.
- They sell dehydrated soup packets that you just add hot water to.
- After the marathon, I felt weak and dehydrated.
- The laboratory procedure requires you to dehydrate the sample completely using a desiccant.
- Prolonged diarrhoea can cause infants to dehydrate dangerously fast.
- The process to dehydrate the solvents under vacuum must be meticulously controlled to prevent contamination.
- Critics argue that the sensationalist media coverage serves to dehydrate the complex political issue of all nuance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the prefix DE- (meaning 'remove' or 'reverse') + HYDRATE (to add water). So, DEHYDRATE means to REMOVE water.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/HEALTH IS WATER. To dehydrate is to remove the substance essential for life, leading to a weakened state.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing with *'дегидрировать' (dehydrirovat'), which is a false friend meaning 'to dehydrogenate' (remove hydrogen).
- The correct Russian equivalents are 'обезвоживать' (obezvozhivat') for the process and 'страдать от обезвоживания' (stra dat' ot obezvozhivaniya) for the physiological state.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing it as /diːˈhaɪdərət/ (like 'de-hy-drate' with a schwa). The final syllable is /dreɪt/.
- Confusing 'dehydrated' (lacking water) with 'malnourished' (lacking nutrients).
- Using 'dehydrate' for simple 'drying' (e.g., drying clothes) is too strong; it implies total water removal.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'dehydrate' used most precisely?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While commonly used for the physiological state ('I'm dehydrated'), it is equally correct for objects and food ('dehydrated fruit', 'dehydrated alcohol').
'Dehydrate' implies a more complete, intentional, or scientific removal of water, often for preservation or as a medical condition. 'Dry' is more general (dry clothes, dry paint). You 'dry' your hair with a towel, but a machine 'dehydrates' food for long-term storage.
The noun is 'dehydration' (/ˌdiːhaɪˈdreɪʃən/).
Yes, though it's advanced (C1/C2). It can describe removing vitality, interest, or complexity from something, e.g., 'The bureaucratic process dehydrated all creativity from the project.'
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