xero- /zē-rō-/, or before a vowel xer- /zēr-/

Denoting dry

xeranˈsis noun

A drying-up

xeranthemum /-anˈthi-məm/ noun

1. (Gr anthemon flower) any plant of the Xeranthemum genus of plants of S Europe, belonging to the thistle family
2. One species of these, also called everlasting

xeranˈtic adjective

Drying up

xerarch /zēˈrärk/ adjective (Gr archē beginning; botany)

Of a plant succession, starting on land where conditions are very dry

xerasia /zi-rāˈsi-ə/ noun

An abnormal or unhealthy dryness of the hair

xēˈric adjective

1. Dry, lacking in moisture
2. Xerophytic

xerochasy /zi-rokˈə-si/ noun (botany, etc)

Dehiscence on drying

xeroderma /zē-rō-dûrˈmə/ or xeroderˈmia noun

(Gr derma skin) a disease characterized by abnormal dryness of the skin and by abnormal excessive growth of its horny layer, a mild form of ichthyosis (xeroderma pigmentosum /pig-men-tōˈsəm/ an inherited inability to repair DNA damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet light)

xerodermatˈic, xeroderˈmatous or xeroderˈmic adjective

xerographˈic adjective

xerogˈraphy noun

A non-chemical photographic process in which the plate is sensitized electrically and developed by dusting with electrically-charged fine powder

xeroma /-rōˈ/ noun (pl xerōˈmas or xerōˈmata)

Xerophthalmia

xēˈromorph /-mörf/ noun

(Gr morphē form) a xerophyte

xeromorˈphic or xeromorˈphous adjective

Of parts of a plant, protected against excessive loss of water by thick cuticles, coatings of hairs and similar structural features

xerophagy /zi-rofˈə-ji/ noun

(Gr phagein to eat) the eating of dry food, or of bread, vegetables and water, as a form of fast

xēˈrophile noun

A xerophilous plant

xerophilous /-ofˈil-əs/ adjective

(Gr philos loving) of a plant, tolerant of a very dry habitat

xerophˈily noun

Adaptation to dry conditions

xērophthalmia /-of-thalˈmi-ə/ noun

(Gr ophthalmos eye) a dry lustreless condition of the conjunctiva due to deficiency of vitamin A in the diet

xēˈrophyte /-fīt/ noun

(Gr phyton plant) a plant able to inhabit places where the water supply is scanty, or where conditions, eg excess of salts, make it difficult to take in water

xerophytic /-fitˈ/ adjective

Able to withstand drought

xeroradiogˈraphy noun

X-ray photography by xerography

xerōˈsis noun

Abnormal dryness, eg of the skin, mouth, eyes, etc

xerostoma /-osˈtom-ə/ or xerostōˈmia noun

(Gr stoma mouth) excessive dryness of the mouth due to insufficient secretions

xerotes /zēˈrō-tēz/ noun

Xerosis

xerothermˈic adjective

1. (of a region or climate) both dry and hot
2. (of an animal or plant) living in a xerothermic environment

xerotic /-rotˈ/ adjective

Of bodily tissues, abnormally dry

• soutanes
• soutar
• souteneur
• souteneurs
• souter
• souterly
• souterrain
• souterrains
• souters
• souter's clod
• south
• southabout
• South African
• South Africans
• southbound
• south-by-east
• south-by-west
• Southcottian
• Southdown
• south-east
• south-east-by-east
• south-east-by-south
• south-easter
• south-easterlies
• south-easterly