Dry Facts for Kids

Dry or dryness usually means a lack of something, like:

Lack of water: This can mean places with very little rain, like deserts, or a drought, which is a long time with no rain.
Rules about alcohol: Sometimes, a "dry" area means it's against the law to sell or drink alcoholic drinks there. This was common during the Prohibition Era in some countries.
Dry humor: This is a type of funny talk where someone says something funny in a very serious way, also called deadpan.
Dryness (medical): This refers to parts of the body feeling dry, like dry skin or dry eyes.
Dryness (taste): In drinks, "dry" means it's not sweet. For example, a "dry" soda has less sugar.
Dry sound: In music or sound recording, "dry" means a sound that doesn't have any echoes or special effects.

Dry or DRY can also refer to other things:

Places Named Dry

Many places around the world have "Dry" in their name, often because they are in areas with little water or have rivers that sometimes dry up.

Dry Brook: Several different rivers have this name.
Dry Creek: Many rivers and even some towns are called Dry Creek.
Dry River: Like Dry Brook and Dry Creek, this name is used for various rivers and towns.

The word "Dry" is also used in the titles of many books, movies, and songs.

Dry (film) (2014): A movie from 2014 that stars Stephanie Okereke and Liz Benson.
The Dry (film) (2020): This movie came out in 2020 and is based on a popular book by Jane Harper.

Dry (memoir) (2003): This is a true story (a memoir) written by Augusten Burroughs in 2003.
The Dry (2016): A mystery novel written by Jane Harper in 2016.

Dry (group): A music group from Hong Kong that sings in Cantopop style.
Dry (album): An album by the musician PJ Harvey.
"Dry": A song by the band Kutless from their first album, Kutless.
"Dry": A song by the Welsh band Feeder, found on their 1999 album Yesterday Went Too Soon.

Sometimes, "dry" is used to describe groups or ideas, especially in politics.

Asociación Democracia Real Ya: This is a Spanish group that wants to see more real democracy.
Plataforma ¡Democracia Real YA!: Another Spanish group with similar goals, pushing for real democracy now.
Wets and dries: These were two different groups within the British Conservative Party. They had different ideas about how the government should run the economy.

In technology, "dry" can refer to important rules or types of batteries.

Don't repeat yourself (DRY): This is a rule in computer programming. It means that you should avoid writing the same code over and over again. Instead, you should write it once and reuse it.

Dry cell: This is a common type of battery, like the ones you use in flashlights or remote controls. It uses a paste-like electrolyte instead of a liquid, which makes it safer and easier to use in many devices.

Dry (surname): "Dry" can also be a family name.
Dry (rapper): This is the stage name of Landry Delica, a rapper who was born in 1977 and has Congolese roots.