-ation, -ization (-iz[e] + -ation); -isation (British spelling variation)

A process by which something becomes completely dry: The soil desiccation makes it much more difficult to raise crops.

The desiccation of so many farms has been causing severe financial losses for farmers.

Removal from a customary social environment: "Imprisonment is an example of the desocialization of inmates."

1. A feeling of loneliness and despair: "After the death of her husband, she sank into a state of desolation and despair."
2. A condition of devastation or ruin in a place: "After the powerful earthquake, the country was in utter desolation."
3. The act or process of devastating or laying waste to a place: "The terrible storm was leaving desolation in its path."

1. A situation in which everything seems wrong and will turn out badly.
2. Recklessness brought on by great urgency and anxiety.
3. A condition of being without hope.

1. The loss of bits of outer skin by peeling or shedding or coming off in scales.
2. Etymology: from the Latin desquamare, meaning "to scrape the scales off a fish".

For example, once the rash of measles fades, there is desquamation.

1. The place to which something is intended to go: The name and address on the package to where it is to be delivered is referred to as its destination.
2. The locality, the region, or the place where a journey or trip ends: After hiking for many hours, Chuck and Russell finally reached their destination at the peak of the mountain!
3. The final stop or goal for which something is accomplished: The destination or terminus of bus number 10 ends at the train station.

1. A gradual decline in quality, serviceability, or vigor: Ted's mother noticed a gradual deterioration and change in the health of her friend Jim because of his illness and prolonged stay in the hospital.
2. The process of becoming worse: Mike's aunt stated that she was very concerned that the quality of service at the hotel was suffering a deterioration and changing for the worse.

There has been a steady deterioration of academic standards in Monroe's local college.

3. A downturn, a decline, or a significant downward trend: The economic deteriorations are having detrimental influences on more and more people.
4. In psychiatry, progressive impairment in mental functioning without the implication of irreversibility: Due to Shirley's chronic alcoholism, the doctors indicated that her mental deterioration was permanent and there was no hope of recovery.
5. Depreciation or loss of value of real property due to physical wear and tear: The value of the riverside property suffered significant deterioration as a result of the recurring flood pattern of the river.
6. Etymology: from Late Latin deterioratus, the past participle of deteriorare, "to make worse, to become worse" which came from Latin deterior, "lower, inferior, worse".

Impairment of the ability to maintain one's level of concentration despite an apparent desire to do so and a lack of competing thoughts that explain ordinary inattentiveness: The patient in the nursing home appeared to be suffering from a deterioration of attention which was revealed when she would struggle to concentrate and was unable to do it.

Relating to events or experiences that cannot be controlled because they are decided by situations that are beyond people's choices or desires: The deterministic details of the graduation ceremony at the university were established by traditions dating back 150 years.

An intense loathing or hatred for someone or something: Jane's neighbor had two dogs which caused her to have detestations about them because of their behavior of barking so much during the daytime and at night.

The process of removing a poison, or toxin, from the body.

The liver is the primary organ of detoxification in the body.

The reduction of the official value of a currency in terms of gold or of another currency.

The process of changing vapor into water: "When rain is being formed in the atmosphere, that's when devaporation is taking place."