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4. (Fine Arts) Exhibiting a sharp, frigid preciseness of execution, or the want of a delicate contour in
form, and of easy transition in coloring.
Dry area (Arch.), a small open space reserved outside the foundation of a building to guard it from
damp. — Dry blow. (a) (Med.) A blow which inflicts no wound, and causes no effusion of blood.
(b) A quick, sharp blow. — Dry bone (Min.), Smithsonite, or carbonate of zinc; — a miner's term. —
Dry castor (Zoöl.) a kind of beaver; — called also parchment beaver. — Dry cupping. (Med.) See
under Cupping. - - Dry dock. See under Dock. — Dry fat. See Dry vat — Dry light, pure
unobstructed light; hence, a clear, impartial view. Bacon.
The scientific man must keep his feelings under stern control, lest they obtrude into his researches, and
color the dry light in which alone science desires to see its objects. J. C. Shairp. — Dry masonry. See Masonry. — Dry measure, a system of measures of volume for dry or coarse
articles, by the bushel, peck, etc. — Dry pile (Physics), a form of the Voltaic pile, constructed without
the use of a liquid, affording a feeble current, and chiefly useful in the construction of electroscopes
of great delicacy; — called also Zamboni's , from the names of the two earliest constructors of it. —
Dry pipe (Steam Engine), a pipe which conducts dry steam from a boiler. — Dry plate (Photog.),
a glass plate having a dry coating sensitive to light, upon which photographic negatives or pictures can
be made, without moistening. — Dry-plate process, the process of photographing with dry plates. —
Dry point. (Fine Arts) (a) An engraving made with the needle instead of the burin, in which the work
is done nearly as in etching, but is finished without the use acid. (b) A print from such an engraving,
usually upon paper. (c) Hence: The needle with which such an engraving is made. — Dry rent (Eng.
Law), a rent reserved by deed, without a clause of distress. Bouvier. — Dry rot, a decay of timber,
reducing its fibers to the condition of a dry powdery dust, often accompanied by the presence of a peculiar
fungus which is sometimes considered the cause of the decay; but it is more probable that the real cause
is the decomposition of the wood itself. D. C. Eaton. Called also sap rot, and, in the United States,
powder post. Hebert. — Dry stove, a hothouse adapted to preserving the plants of arid climates.
Brande & C. — Dry vat, a vat, basket, or other receptacle for dry articles. — Dry wine, that in which
the saccharine matter and fermentation were so exactly balanced, that they have wholly neutralized
each other, and no sweetness is perceptible; — opposed to sweet wine, in which the saccharine matter
is in excess.
Dry
(Dry), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dried ; p. pr. & vb. n. Drying.] [AS. drygan; cf. drugian to grow dry.
See Dry, a.] To make dry; to free from water, or from moisture of any kind, and by any means; to exsiccate; as,
to dry the eyes; to dry one's tears; the wind dries the earth; to dry a wet cloth; to dry hay.
To dry up. (a) To scorch or parch with thirst; to deprive utterly of water; to consume.
Their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Is. v. 13.
The water of the sea, which formerly covered it, was in time exhaled and dried up by the sun. Woodward. (b) To make to cease, as a stream of talk.
Their sources of revenue were dried up. Jowett (Thucyd. ) — To dry, or dry up, a cow, to cause a cow to cease secreting milk. Tylor.
Dry
(Dry), v. i.
1. To grow dry; to become free from wetness, moisture, or juice; as, the road dries rapidly.
2. To evaporate wholly; to be exhaled; — said of moisture, or a liquid; — sometimes with up; as, the stream
dries, or dries up.
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