oasis

noun

oa·​sis ō-ˈā-səs 

plural oases ō-ˈā-ˌsēz 

1

: a fertile or green area in an arid region (such as a desert)

The caravan stopped to rest at an oasis.

2

: something that provides refuge, relief, or pleasant contrast

The small park is a welcome oasis amid the city's many factories.

Examples of oasis in a Sentence

The small park is a welcome oasis amid the city's many factories.

Our brief trip to the beach was a much-needed oasis in a summer of hard work.

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, there are also oases throughout the Arabian Desert where giant date farms produce more than 1.61 million tons a year from over 34 million date palms. —Paul Feinstein, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2024

Siwa Oasis, Egypt Anderson found no cloud cover nor many dust storms in the historical record for this urban oasis near the Great Sand Sea in the Western Desert. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent can turn any living space into an elegant oasis — even if it’s decorated with Legos. —Clara McMahon, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

Desert oasis:Environmental groups seek groundwater protections around Arizona's San Pedro River As aquifers empty, efforts continue to replenish them State law doesn't recognize a connection between groundwater and surface water, complicating efforts to protect rivers from groundwater pumping. —Clara Migoya, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin Oasis, referring to the Great Oasis of Kharge in the Libyan Desert of Egypt, borrowed from Greek Óasis (Herodotus), borrowed from Egyptian wḥꜢ.t "fertile area in the desert"

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

oasis

noun

oa·​sis ō-ˈā-səs 

plural oases -ˈā-ˌsēz 

1

: a fertile or green spot in a desert

2

: something or some place that provides refreshing relief