aridity
gb/ˈɛɹˈɪdɪti/ us/ˈɛɹˈɪdɪti/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
property
1
extreme dryness of land
the state of being very dry, especially in a desert or dry region
Usage pattern:
the aridity of [place/region/soil]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse aridity with acidity, which refers to how acid something is.
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)
Collocations
extreme aridity
|increasing aridity
|climatic aridity
|soil aridity
|desert aridity
|regional aridity
|levels of aridity
|degree of aridity
|aridity of the landscape
Themes
climate
|environment
|geography
|weather
Examples
- The aridity of the region makes large-scale farming difficult without irrigation.
- Climate change could increase aridity in parts of the Mediterranean.
- Many desert plants have adapted to extreme aridity.
Learner examples
- The aridity of the desert surprised the visitors.
- Farmers worry about the increasing aridity of the soil.
Noun
formal
C2
property
2
dryness in style or feeling
a dull or emotionally dry quality
Usage pattern:
the aridity of [writing/argument/life/tone]
Common mistake:
This figurative use is formal; in everyday speech, words like dullness or coldness are more common.
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)
Collocations
emotional aridity
|intellectual aridity
|spiritual aridity
|moral aridity
|aridity of style
|aridity of tone
|aridity of the prose
Themes
literature
|emotions
|communication
|criticism
Examples
- Some readers complained about the emotional aridity of the novel.
- The report was accurate, but its aridity made it hard to read.
- 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.
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.