dry construction noun (building)

The use of timber or plasterboard for partitions, lining of walls and ceilings, to eliminate the traditional use of plaster and the consequent drying-out period (also dry lining)

dryˈ-cupping noun (old medicine)

Application of cups without previous scarification

dryˈ-cure transitive verb

To cure by drying

dry distillation noun

Destructive distillation (qv under destruction)

dry dock noun

A dock from which the water can be pumped, in order to effect repairs to the underside of a ship

dryˈ-dock transitive verb

To put in a dry dock

dryˈ-eyed adjective

Tearless

dry farming noun

A system of tillage in dry countries, surface soil being kept constantly loose, so as to retain scanty rains and reduce evaporation

dryˈ-fist noun (obsolete)

A niggard

dry-fistˈed adjective and adverb (obsolete)

Taking payment for gains and owing for losses

dryˈ-fly adjective

(of fishing) without sinking the fly in the water

dryˈ-foot adverb (Shakespeare)

By scent of the foot alone

dry goods plural noun

Drapery and the like distinguished from groceries, etc

dry hole noun

1. A well that does not yield commercially viable quantities of oil or gas
2. An unsuccessful project (figurative)

dry ice, dry-iced see under ice

drying oils plural noun

Vegetable or animal oils that harden by oxidation when exposed to air

drying-up cloth noun

A cloth or towel for drying dishes, a dishtowel

dry land noun

Land as opposed to sea

dry light noun (archaic)

1. An undeceptive light
2. An unprejudiced view

dry lining see dry construction above.

dry Mass or dry service noun

Missa sicca, a rite in which there is neither consecration nor communion

dry measure noun

A system of measure by bulk, used for grain, etc (see eg bushel¹, peck², pint)

dry monsoon see under monsoon

dryˈmouth noun

Xerostomia

dryˈ-nurse noun

A nurse who does not suckle (also transitive verb)

dryˈ-plate noun

A sensitized photographic plate, with which a picture may be made without the preliminary use of a bath

dryˈ-pointˈ noun

1. A sharp needle by which fine lines are drawn in copperplate engraving
2. A plate or impression produced with it

dry riser noun

A vertical pipe with an outside access through which water can be pumped from the street to the individual floors of a building in the event of a fire

dryˈ-roastˈ transitive verb

To roast without oil or fat

dryˈ-roasted adjective

dry rot noun

1. A decay of timber caused by Merulius lacrymans and other fungi which reduce it ultimately to a dry brittle mass
2. Any of various fungal diseases of plants, bulbs, fruits, etc
3. A concealed decay or degeneration (figurative)

dry run noun

1. A practice exercise (military)
2. A rehearsal, test

dryˈ-saltˈ transitive verb

To cure (meat) by salting and drying

dryˈsalter noun

A dealer in gums, dyes, etc, or (obsolete) in salted or dry meats, pickles, etc

dryˈsaltery noun

dry service see dry Mass above.

dryˈ-shod adjective and adverb

Without wetting the shoes or feet

dry ski noun

An adaptation of a ski with which one can practise skiing on a dry surface

dry skiing noun

dry steam noun

Steam unmixed with liquid drops

dryˈ-stone adjective

Built of stone without mortar, as some walls

dryˈ-stove noun

A kind of hot-house with dry heat

dry'suit noun

A close-fitting air- and watertight synthetic suit for wearing in esp cold water, that retains warmth by a layer of air, and allows clothing to be worn underneath it

dryˈ-transfer lettering noun

Lettering on the back of a plastic sheet that can be rubbed down onto paper, etc

dryˈwall noun (US)

Plasterboard

dryˈ-wallˈer noun

A person who builds walls without mortar

dryˈ-washˈ noun

The bed of an intermittent stream

cut and dried or cut and dry see under cut

dry out (informal)

To take or give a course of treatment to cure oneself or another person of alcoholism

dry up

1. To dry thoroughly or completely
2. To cease to produce liquid (water, milk, etc)
3. (of an actor, etc) to forget one's lines or part (informal)
4. To stop talking (slang)

go dry

To adopt liquor prohibition

high and dry see under high¹

the dry (sometimes with cap; Aust informal)

The dry season in central and N Australia