ELTWeekly Issue #25, Word of the week: desolate

desolate • DESS-uh-lut • adjective

1 : devoid of inhabitants and visitors : deserted

2 : joyless, disconsolate, and sorrowful through or as if through separation from a loved one

3 a : showing the effects of abandonment and neglect : dilapidated

* b : barren, lifeless

c :devoid of warmth, comfort, or hope : gloomy

Example: The landscape looks truly desolate in the winter, but when it blossoms in the spring, it can be surprisingly beautiful.

To know more about the word ‘desolete’, please visit: http://www.merriam-webster.com