v. t. to remove the salt from, especially from water; as, it is necessary to desalinate sea water to make it fit to drink. several processes are in comon use for desalinating sea water. Distillation is effective, but expensive. Reverse osmosis is more economical.
Syn. -- desalt, desalinize. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. same as desalinization.
Syn. -- desalinization, desalinisation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. same as desalinization.
Syn. -- desalination, desalinization. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the removal of salt (especially from sea water); the act or process of desalinating.
Syn. -- desalination, desalinisation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. same as desalinate.
Syn. -- desalinate, desalt. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. to remove the salt from (a solution of salt). This term is used in a more general sense than desalinate, which usually refers to the removal of common salt (sodium chloride) from a water solution, such as sea water. Desalt is commonly used to refer to any laboratory or industrial process in which any salt may be removed from a mixture of substances dssolved in a solvent, usually water. It is thus used as a method of purification in chemical processes. The methods for desalting are very varied.
Syn. -- desalinate, desalinize. [ PJC ]

v. t. to remove the scales from; -- e.g. of fish, or water boilers.
Syn. -- scale. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ OF. descant, deschant, F. déchant, discant, LL. discantus, fr. L. dis + cantus singing, melody, fr. canere to sing. See Chant, and cf. Descant, v. i., Discant. ] 1. (Mus.) (a) Originally, a double song; a melody or counterpoint sung above the plain song of the tenor; a variation of an air; a variation by ornament of the main subject or plain song. (b) The upper voice in part music. (c) The canto, cantus, or soprano voice; the treble. Grove. [ 1913 Webster ]

Twenty doctors expound one text twenty ways, as children make descant upon plain song. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

She [ the nightingale ] all night long her amorous descant sung. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The term has also been used synonymously with counterpoint, or polyphony, which developed out of the French déchant, of the 12th century. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A discourse formed on its theme, like variations on a musical air; a comment or comments. [ 1913 Webster ]

Upon that simplest of themes how magnificent a descant! De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Descanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Descanting. ] [ From descant; n.; or directly fr. OF. descanter, deschanter; L. dis- + cantare to sing. ] 1. To sing a variation or accomplishment. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To comment freely; to discourse with fullness and particularity; to discourse at large. [ 1913 Webster ]

A virtuous man should be pleased to find people descanting on his actions. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who descants. [ 1913 Webster ]