aridity
gb/ˈɛɹˈɪdɪti/ us/ˈɛɹˈɪdɪti/
C1
English
szárazság, ariditás, sivárság
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
the aridity of [place/region/soil]
The aridity of the region makes large-scale farming difficult without irrigation.
A térség szárazsága miatt öntözés nélkül nehéz a nagyüzemi gazdálkodás.
Climate change could increase aridity in parts of the Mediterranean.
Az éghajlatváltozás növelheti az ariditást a mediterrán térség egyes részein.
Many desert plants have adapted to extreme aridity.
Learner examples
The aridity of the desert surprised the visitors.
A sivatag szárazsága meglepte a látogatókat.
Farmers worry about the increasing aridity of the soil.
A gazdák aggódnak a talaj egyre növekvő szárazsága miatt.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse aridity with acidity, which refers to how acid something is.
Meaning
extreme dryness of land
Collocations
extreme aridity
|increasing aridity
|climatic aridity
|soil aridity
|desert aridity
|regional aridity
|levels of aridity
|degree of aridity
|aridity of the landscape
Synonyms
dryness (more common and general)
|
drought (often refers to a temporary period without enough rain)
|
desiccation (more technical; emphasizes drying out)
Antonyms
humidity (the presence of moisture in the air)
|
moisture (water or dampness present in something)
|
wetness (the general state of being wet)
Themes
climate
|environment
|geography
|weather
Definition
the state of being very dry, especially in a desert or dry region
the condition of being very dry, especially because a place receives little rain or has little moisture
NOUN
C2
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
the aridity of [writing/argument/life/tone]
Some readers complained about the emotional aridity of the novel.
Néhány olvasó a regény érzelmi sivárságára panaszkodott.
The report was accurate, but its aridity made it hard to read.
A jelentés pontos volt, de a szárazsága miatt nehéz volt olvasni.
He criticized what he saw as the intellectual aridity of the debate.
Learner examples
The speech had a strange aridity and did not move the audience.
A beszédnek furcsa szárazsága volt, és nem hatotta meg a közönséget.
Common mistake:
This figurative use is formal; in everyday speech, words like dullness or coldness are more common.
Meaning
dryness in style or feeling
Collocations
emotional aridity
|intellectual aridity
|spiritual aridity
|moral aridity
|aridity of style
|aridity of tone
|aridity of the prose
Synonyms
dullness (more common; emphasizes lack of interest)
|
sterility (suggests lack of creativity or productivity)
|
coldness (emphasizes lack of emotional warmth)
Antonyms
warmth (emotional richness or friendliness)
|
richness (fullness, depth, or variety)
|
vividness (lively, clear, and imaginative quality)
Themes
literature
|emotions
|communication
|criticism
Definition
a dull or emotionally dry quality
a quality of being dull, unemotional, or lacking warmth, richness, or imagination
Grammar
Dictionary form
aridity
IPA
GB/ˈɛɹˈɪdɪti/
US/ˈɛɹˈɪdɪti/
Syllables & stress
arid - ity (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (arid)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: aridity
- Plural: aridity
Expressions
aridity index
1/ˈɛɹˈɪdɪti ˈɪndɛks/
fixed phrase
technical
measure of climate dryness
a number that shows how dry a place's climate is
Examples
- Researchers calculated the aridity index for each region using rainfall and temperature data.
- A low aridity index can indicate a dry climate with high water stress.
- The map shows changes in the aridity index across northern Africa.
Learner examples
- Scientists use an aridity index to compare dry regions.