Secar

Secar is a Portuguese verb meaning to remove moisture or to become dry. It is commonly used with objects or substances that carry moisture, such as clothes, dishes, hair, or hands. The verb can describe a physical drying process, whether by air, heat, sun, or mechanical means (for example, a dryer). It can also be used reflexively to indicate drying oneself, as in drying with a towel. In everyday language, secar appears in phrases like secar a roupa, secar o cabelo, or secar as mãos.

Etymology and related terms: Secar derives from Latin siccare, related to siccus, meaning dry. It has cognates in other Romance languages, such as Spanish secar, French sécher, and Italian seccare. The related noun secagem denotes the act or process of drying, while seco describes something that is dry, and secante refers to a drying or desiccating agent.

Conjugation and usage notes: Secar is a regular -ar verb. Present indicative forms include eu seco, tu secas, você/ele/ela seca, nós secamos, vocês secam. The preterite perfecto is eu sequei, você secou, nós secamos, eles secaram. Imperfect forms are eu secava, você secava, nós secávamos, eles secavam. The future tense is eu secarei, você secará, nós secaremos, eles secarão. The gerund is secando, and the past participle is seco. In Brazilian Portuguese, the forms with você/eles secam are common in the present, while the tú form is less frequent outside certain regions.

Examples: Ele secou a roupa ao sol. Ela secou o cabelo com o secador. A toalha secou rapidamente após a lavagem das mãos. O solo ficou seco após a chuva.