arid

arid — adjective

1. extremely dry, with so little rain that many plants cannot live there

1.形容詞C2
釋義

extremely dry, with so little rain that many plants cannot live there

例句

Northern Chile stays arid, and few crops grow without river water.

arid land affecting farming

By August, the hills looked arid after months of hot wind.

linking verb: looked arid

同義詞
  • dry

    is the broad everyday word and can describe weather, objects, or skin

  • parched

    suggests extreme dryness, often from strong heat

  • barren

    adds the idea that little or nothing grows there

反義詞
  • rainy

    focuses on frequent rain rather than dryness

  • lush

    suggests rich, green plant life

  • fertile

    stresses that the land can support crops or plants well

文法句型

arid land

an arid climate

become arid

用法筆記

Usually describes land, regions, weather, or seasons with very little rain. For everyday objects such as hair or towels, dry is the normal word instead.

常見錯誤

❌The desert is very aridly.
✅The desert is very arid.
💡arid is an adjective, not an adverb.
❌My hands feel arid after washing dishes.
✅My hands feel dry after washing dishes.
💡arid is mainly used for climate, land, or broader figurative meanings.

2. bringing little or no useful result after time, money, or effort has been spent

2.形容詞
釋義

bringing little or no useful result after time, money, or effort has been spent

例句

The first round of talks was arid, and neither side signed anything.

result focus: talks produce nothing

Months of arid meetings left the fishing towns without a new plan.

collocation: arid meetings

同義詞
  • fruitless

    strongly stresses that nothing useful came from the effort

  • unproductive

    is common for meetings, work time, or activity that yields little

  • unsuccessful

    is broader and less literary

反義詞

文法句型

arid talks

arid effort

prove arid

用法筆記

Often describes talks, searches, projects, or other efforts that fail to produce progress. Distinguish from adjective/3, which is about something feeling dull or lacking imagination.

常見錯誤

❌The lecture was arid because everyone felt sleepy.
✅The lecture was arid because it offered nothing fresh.' / 'The talks were arid because they produced no decision.
💡adjective/2 stresses lack of results, not just boredom.
❌Our team had an arid win on Saturday.
✅Our team had a hard win on Saturday.' / 'Our campaign was arid and won no support.
💡arid does not mean difficult or narrow.

3. dull and lifeless because it offers no fresh ideas, color, or feeling

3.形容詞
釋義

dull and lifeless because it offers no fresh ideas, color, or feeling

例句

The article felt arid, with long facts and no human stories.

figurative use for writing

Students found the lecturer arid because every slide repeated the textbook.

find + person + arid

同義詞
  • dull

    is the broad everyday word for something not interesting

  • dry

    often describes information or presentation with little feeling or color

  • lifeless

    stresses a lack of energy or vitality

  • tedious

    adds the idea that it feels long and tiring

反義詞
  • lively

    suggests energy and movement

  • vivid

    suggests strong detail and clear mental pictures

  • engaging

    means it holds attention well

文法句型

arid prose

an arid lecture

sound arid

用法筆記

Usually describes writing, speech, teaching, or ideas. Distinguish from adjective/2, which focuses on failed effort or no outcome rather than lack of interest.

常見錯誤

❌The desert looked arid and boring.
✅The desert looked arid.' / 'The lecture sounded arid and boring.
💡adjective/3 is the figurative sense for books, talks, or other intellectual content.
❌The party was arid because only ten people came.
✅The party was dull because only ten people came.' / 'The report was arid because it lacked life.
💡arid is uncommon for social events and is more typical for writing or speech.