As an adjective, it means not wet, containing no or very little water or moisture. As a verb, it means to remove moisture from something or to become free of moisture.
From Old English 'drȳge' meaning 'dry', from Proto-Germanic '*draugiz'. Related to German 'trocken' and Dutch 'droog'. The core meaning has changed very little over time.
We use 'dry' not just for weather and laundry, but for emotions and humor—'dry wit' is sharp but not showy. Calling a place 'dry' can also mean no alcohol is allowed. One short word quietly connects climate, comedy, and culture.
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