Dehydration vs. Desiccation — What's the Difference?

In physiology, dehydration is a lack of total body water, with an accompanying disruption of metabolic processes. It occurs when free water loss exceeds free water intake, usually due to exercise, disease, or high environmental temperature.

Desiccation (from Latin de- "thoroughly" + siccare "to dry") is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic (attracts and holds water) substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container.

The process of removing water from a substance or compound.

To dry out thoroughly.

Excessive loss of water from the body or from an organ or body part, as from illness or fluid deprivation.

To preserve (foods) by removing the moisture.

The act or process of removing water from something.

To make dry, dull, or lifeless

The condition in which water in the body drops below normal levels, usually caused by illness, sweating or by not drinking enough.

To become dry; dry out.

The act or process of freeing from water; also, the condition of a body from which the water has been removed.

Lacking spirit or animation; arid

Dryness resulting from the removal of water

(uncountable) The state or process of being desiccated

Depletion of bodily fluids

An act or occurrence of desiccating

The process of extracting moisture

The act of desiccating, or the state of being desiccated.

Dryness resulting from the removal of water

The process of extracting moisture