What does seco in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word seco in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use seco in Spanish.

The word seco in Spanish means dry, dry, withered, dried, dry, curt, scrawny, aghast, dumbstruck, dry, dry, sharp, blank, dry, dry, dry, dry up, heal, dry up, say bluntly, straight, under bare poles, dry, dry spell, dry patch, dry-cleaning, cold, short, brake suddenly, nut, dry ice, dryclean, dry cleaning, stop dead, read the riot act, stand firm, medium-dry, take it dry, dry swallow. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word seco

dry

adjetivo (que carece de agua)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Hacer brotar agua del manantial seco sería un milagro.
If you could make water come out of a dry spring, it would be a miracle.

dry

adjetivo (clima: poco húmedo)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
La estepa y el desierto son dos regiones naturales de clima seco.
The steppe and the desert are two regions with a naturally dry climate.

withered

adjetivo (marchito, mustio) (plant)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
El árbol seco fue derribado y su tronco utilizado como leña.
The withered tree was cut down and its trunk was used as firewood.

dried

adjetivo (fruto: deshidratado)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
El fruto seco se utiliza en México en la elaboración de dulces.
Dried fruit is used in Mexico for making candy.

dry

adjetivo (pelo, piel: sin grasa)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
El cutis seco se caracteriza por el poro cerrado y el envejecimiento prematuro.
Dry skin is characterized by closed pores and premature aging.

curt

adjetivo (carácter: áspero, adusto)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Es un hombre muy seco, incapaz de mostrar emociones.
He has a curt manner and is unable to express emotions.

scrawny

adjetivo (físico: flaco, enjuto)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Sentí pena al ver al viejo seco y desnutrido, parecía que una ráfaga de viento podría llevárselo por el aire.
I was sad to see the scrawny and underfed old man; it looked like a stiff wind could sweep him away.

aghast, dumbstruck

adjetivo (coloquial (impresionado, boquiabierto)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Me quedé seca cuando me contaron del accidente.
I was dumbstruck when they told me about the accident.

dry

adjetivo (bebida no dulce) (drink)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
La bebida favorita de James Bond es el martini seco, agitado no mezclado.
James Bond's favourite drink is a dry martini, shaken not stirred.

dry

adjetivo (comida: con poco jugo)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
El pollo quedará muy seco si lo cueces demasiado.
The chicken will get dry if you cook it too long.

sharp

adjetivo (golpe: corto y fuerte)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Oí un golpe seco, algo se cayó.
I heard a sharp thud as something fell.

blank

adjetivo (cerebro: sin ideas)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
No se me ocurre ningún ejemplo, mi cerebro está seco.
I can't think of a single example. My mind's gone blank.

dry

verbo transitivo (extraer la humedad)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Secaron la ropa poniéndola sobre el radiador.
They dried the clothes by placing them over the radiator.

dry

verbo transitivo (con un trapo, toalla)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Coge la toalla grande y sécate antes de volver a vestirte.
Grab the large towel and dry yourself before getting dressed again.

dry

verbo transitivo (extraer todo el líquido)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Pusieron las hojas a secar para hacer un centro floral.
The leaves were put out to dry for the floral center piece.

dry up

verbo pronominal (quedarse sin agua)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")
El manantial se ha secado.
The natural spring has dried up.

heal

verbo pronominal (herida: cicatrizarse)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
La herida se secó y cayeron los puntos que le habían dado.
The wound healed and the stitches he received fell off.

dry up

verbo pronominal (figurado (perder: capacidad de amar) (figurative)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")
Cuando superó el dolor por su traición se le había secado el corazón y era incapaz de amar.
When she overcame the pain of the betrayal her heart had dried up and she was incapable of love.

say bluntly

locución adverbial (sin accesorios, directamente)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
¿Y me dices que mi madre ha muerto así, a palo seco?
You're telling me bluntly like this that my mother has died?

straight

locución adverbial (sin comer) (drink)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Se bebió tres chupitos de tequila a palo seco, sin comer nada.
He downed three straight tequila shots without eating anything.

under bare poles

locución adverbial (embarcación: velas recogidas)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Se ve que la embarcación está a palo seco, tiene todas las velas recogidas.
You can see that the boat is sailing under bare poles. The sails are all gathered up.

dry

locución adverbial (sin beber)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Se comió una caja de polvorones a palo seco. No sé cómo no se atragantó.
He ate a whole box of sugar cookies dry. I don't know why he didn't choke.

dry spell, dry patch

locución adverbial (figurado (sin realizar actividad)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Lleva en el dique seco dos años y está un poco desesperado.
He has had a dry spell for two years and is a little desperate.

dry-cleaning

locución adverbial (sin usar agua)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Si no quieres gastar en tintorería, no compres ropa que requiera lavado en seco.
If you don't want to pay a dry-cleaner, don't buy clothing that requires dry-cleaning.

cold, short

locución adverbial (bruscamente) (stop)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
El automovilista frenó en seco para evitar atropellar al niño.
The motorist stopped cold in order to avoid hitting the child.

brake suddenly

locución verbal (detenerse bruscamente)

Derramé el café en el carro porque mi papá frenó en seco.

nut

(gen pl (semilla con cáscara dura)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Lleva frutos secos para el viaje por si te da hambre.
Bring nuts for the trip in case you get hungry.

dry ice

locución nominal masculina (dióxido de carbono)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Lina compró hielo seco para mantener las cervezas frías en la playa.
Lina bought dry ice to keep the beers cool on the beach.

dryclean

locución verbal (sin usar agua)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
En las instrucciones del edredón dice "lavar en seco".
The quilt's instructions say to "dry clean."

dry cleaning

nombre femenino (ropa: lavar sin agua)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Tu vestido de noche requiere limpieza en seco.

stop dead

locución verbal (AmL, coloq (poner fin a algo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Quería salir conmigo, pero lo paré en seco.
He wanted to go out with me but I stopped him dead.

read the riot act

locución verbal (MX, CL, UY, coloq (regañar a alguien) (colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Tienes que parar en seco a tu hijo, es muy maleducado.
You have to read your son the riot act - he's really rude.

stand firm

locución verbal (CR, coloquial (mostrarse firme)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

medium-dry

adjetivo (tipo de vino)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

take it dry

locución verbal (beber de un trago)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

dry swallow

locución verbal (sin beber)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
No puedo tragar esa píldora en seco, necesito agua.
I can't dry swallow that pill; I need some water.

Let's learn Spanish

So now that you know more about the meaning of seco in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

Do you know about Spanish

Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.