French word

sec

Pronunciation

IPA/sɛk/

Meaning

  • adjectivedry

Example

Le linge est sec.

The laundry is dry.

Illustration for sec (dry)

More examples

Le vin est sec.

The wine is dry.

Core concept

A thing stripped of moisture or sweetness, leaving a crisp, austere quality.

Common phrases

  • air sec

    dry air

  • pain sec

    dry bread

Similar words

desséché: Extremely dry after losing nearly all moisture.
aride: Very dry, especially when describing land or climate.

Definition in French

Qui manque de sucre pour un vin (non sucré) ou, de façon générale, qui manque d'humidité; par extension, qui est tranchant.

Word origin

Sec comes from Latin siccus through Old French, retaining the basic sense of lacking moisture and extending it to wines with little sweetness.

Usage tips

  • In wine vocabulary, vin sec means a wine with little residual sugar, not a wine that lacks liquid.

Other meanings

  • curtadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word