desert desert /dɪˈzɝːt/

noun

1. () Arid land with little or no vegetation  ( desert )
   arid land with little or no vegetation
    The hot sun beat down on us as we hiked through the desert
   The hot sun beat down on us as we hiked through the desert
   
   
2. (usually plural) a person's deservingness of or entitlement to reward or punishment  ( desert )
   (usually plural) a person's deservingness of or entitlement to reward or punishment
   

verb

1. () Leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch  ( desolate , abandon , forsake , desert )
   leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
    The mother deserted her children
   The mother deserted her children
   
2. () Desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the opposing cause, country, or army  ( defect , desert )
   desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the opposing cause, country, or army
    If soldiers deserted Hitler's army, they were shot
   If soldiers deserted Hitler's army, they were shot
   
3. Leave behind  ( desert )
   leave behind
    The students deserted the campus after the end of exam period
   the students deserted the campus after the end of exam period