[C,U] a large area of land where it is always very hot and dry, and there is a lot of sand
沙漠，荒漠:
the Sahara Desert
撒哈拉沙漠
This area of the country is mostly desert.
该国的这一地区大部分是沙漠。
The plane crash-landed in the desert.
飞机在沙漠上紧急降落。
[C] a place where there is no activity or where nothing interesting happens
荒凉的地方:
The railroad yard was a desert now.
火车调车场现在是一处荒凉的地方。
verb
[T] to leave someone or something and no longer help or support them
遗弃，抛弃，离弃;
Helen was deserted by her husband.
海伦被丈夫遗弃了。
Many of the party's traditional voters deserted it at the last election.
许多长期支持该党的选民在上一次选举中抛弃了它。
The price rise caused many readers to desert the magazine.
价格上涨导致许多读者放弃了这本杂志。
He deserted her for another woman.
他为了另一个女人而抛弃了她。
[T] to leave a place so that it is completely empty
离开，舍弃〔某地〕;
The birds have deserted their nest.
这些鸟舍弃了它们的窝。
[I] to leave the army, navy etc without permission
擅自离开军队，开小差:
Several hundred soldiers have deserted.
几百名士兵开小差跑了。
[T] if a feeling, quality, or skill deserts you, you no longer have it, especially at a time when you need it
〔感觉、品质或技艺〕背离，舍弃:
Mike's confidence seemed to have deserted him.