a barren region incapable of supporting much life
an uninhabited place; a place of solitude; a wilderness
‘Sometimes I have been in the humour of wishing to retire to a desert.’ ‘Sir, you have desert enough in Scotland.’ — Dr Johnson
an area or place that is deprived of or devoid of something important
a cultural desert
[Middle English via Old French and late Latin from Latin desertum, neuter past part. of deserere to desert, from de- + serere to join together]