desert
gb/dˈɛzɚt/ us/dˈɛzɚt/
A2
English
~ 4500
sivatag, cserbenhagy, elhagy, megérdemelt büntetés, megkapja, amit érdemel
NOUN
A2
1
sivatag
A2
Usage pattern:
the [adjective] desert
The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world.
A Szahara a világ legnagyobb forró sivataga.
Many animals in the desert are active only at night.
A sivatagban sok állat csak éjszaka aktív.
They crossed the desert on camels.
This plant can survive in the harsh desert environment.
Learner examples
The desert is very hot in the day.
A sivatagban nappal nagyon meleg van.
Camels live in the desert.
A tevék a sivatagban élnek.
We saw sand in the desert.
It does not rain much in the desert.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'desert' with 'dessert' (sweet food after a meal).
Meaning
Dry, barren area of land
Collocations
hot desert
|Sahara Desert
|desert climate
|desert landscape
|desert region
Synonyms
wasteland (Emphasizes complete emptiness and lack of life.)
Antonyms
forest (A forest is full of trees and receives much more rainfall.)
Themes
geography
|nature
|travel
Definition
A big, dry place with almost no rain and very few plants.
A large, barren region with little or no rainfall, often covered with sand or rocks, and supporting very few plants or animals.
VERB
B1
2
cserbenhagy
B2
elhagy
A2
Usage pattern:
to desert [someone/something]
He would never desert his friends in trouble.
Soha nem hagyná cserben a bajba jutott barátait.
The soldiers deserted their posts during the night.
A katonák az éjszaka folyamán elhagyták az őrhelyüket.
She felt deserted by her colleagues after the failure.
Learner examples
He deserted his friend in need.
Cserbenhagyta a bajban lévő barátját.
The man deserted his family.
A férfi elhagyta a családját.
The soldiers deserted the camp.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'deserve' due to similar pronunciation.
Meaning
Leave someone or something behind
Collocations
desert a friend
|desert a post
|desert one's family
|desert the army
Synonyms
abandon (Very close in meaning; 'abandon' is more common in general contexts.)
Antonyms
support (To stay with and help someone instead of leaving them.)
Themes
relationships
|military
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To go away from someone or something and not come back, often when you are needed.
To leave someone or something, especially when they need you, and not return.
NOUN
B2
3
He got his just deserts for lying to everyone.
Megkapta a megérdemelt büntetését, amiért mindenkinek hazudott.
Villains eventually meet their deserts.
A gonosztevők végül elnyerik méltó büntetésüket.
Learner examples
He got his just deserts.
Megkapta, amit érdemelt.
Bad people get their deserts.
A rossz emberek megkapják, amit érdemelnek.
Common mistake:
Often misspelled as 'desserts'. This sense is mostly used in the fixed phrase 'just deserts'.
Meaning
What someone deserves
Collocations
just deserts
Synonyms
comeuppance (Informal term meaning deserved punishment.)
Antonyms
undeserved reward (Something received without merit.)
Themes
justice
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A result that is fair for someone’s actions, usually bad as punishment.
Something that is deserved, especially a punishment or reward that is considered just.
Grammar
Dictionary form
desert
IPA
GB/dˈɛzɚt/
US/dˈɛzɚt/
Syllables & stress
desert (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (desert)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: desert
- Plural: deserts
Verb
- Base: desert
- 3rd Person Singular: deserts
- Present Participle: deserting
- Past: deserted
Word family
Forms
deserts
noun
deserting
verb
deserted
verb
Advanced or less common
desertify
verb
desertification
noun C1
Expressions
just deserts
1/d͡ʒˈʌst dˈɛzɚts/
fixed phrase
Deserved outcome for actions
The fair and right result for what someone has done, usually bad as punishment.
Examples
- After years of cheating, he finally got his just deserts.
- The corrupt official faced his just deserts in court.
desert island
1/dˈɛzɚt ˈaɪlənd/
fixed phrase
Uninhabited remote island
A small island with no people living there, often far from other land.
Examples
- He dreamed of escaping to a desert island.
- They were stranded on a desert island for weeks.
- Being stranded on a desert island is a common story in books.
- He dreamed of living alone on a desert island.