desiccation

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

desiccation
    n 1: dryness resulting from the removal of water [syn:
         {dehydration}, {desiccation}]
    2: the process of extracting moisture [syn: {dehydration},
       {desiccation}, {drying up}, {evaporation}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Desiccation \Des`ic*ca"tion\, n. [Cf. F. dessiccation.]
   The act of desiccating, or the state of being desiccated.
   [1913 Webster]

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