Chaparral vs. Desert: What's the Difference?

Chaparral and Desert Definitions
Chaparral
An area covered by a dense growth of mostly small-leaved evergreen shrubs, especially in central and southern California.
Desert
A dry, often sandy region of little rainfall, extreme temperatures, and sparse vegetation.
Chaparral
(US) A region of shrubs, typically dry in the summer and rainy in the winter. The coast of the Mediterranean is such a region.
Desert
A region of permanent cold that is largely or entirely devoid of life.
Chaparral
The foliage of creosote bush, Larrea divaricata, when used as a medicinal herb.
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Desert
An apparently lifeless area of water.
Chaparral
A thicket of low evergreen oaks.
Desert
An empty or forsaken place; a wasteland
A cultural desert.
Chaparral
An almost impenetrable thicket or succession of thickets of thorny shrubs and brambles.
Desert
(Archaic) A wild and uninhabited region.
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Chaparral
Dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes
Desert
Often deserts Something that is deserved or merited, especially a punishment
They got their just deserts when the scheme was finally uncovered.
Desert
The state or fact of deserving reward or punishment.
Desert
Of, relating to, characteristic of, or inhabiting a desert
Desert fauna.
Desert
Wild and uninhabited
A desert island.
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Desert
To leave empty or alone; abandon.
Desert
To withdraw from, especially in spite of a responsibility or duty; forsake
Deserted her friend in a time of need.
Desert
To abandon (a military post, for example) in violation of orders or an oath.
Desert
To forsake one's duty or post, especially to be absent without leave from the armed forces with no intention of returning.
Desert
That which is deserved or merited; a just punishment or reward.
Desert
A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with little water or vegetation; a wasteland.
Desert
(figuratively) Any barren place or situation.
Desert
Usually of a place: abandoned, deserted, or uninhabited.
They were marooned on a desert island in the Pacific.
Desert
To leave (anything that depends on one's presence to survive, exist, or succeed), especially when contrary to a promise or obligation; to abandon; to forsake.
You can't just drive off and desert me here, in the middle of nowhere.
Desert
To leave one's duty or post, especially to leave a military or naval unit without permission.
Anyone found deserting will be punished.
Desert
That which is deserved; the reward or the punishment justly due; claim to recompense, usually in a good sense; right to reward; merit.
According to their deserts will I judge them.
Andronicus, surnamed PiusFor many good and great deserts to Rome.
His reputation falls far below his desert.
Desert
A deserted or forsaken region; a barren tract incapable of supporting population, as the vast sand plains of Asia and Africa which are destitute of moisture and vegetation.
A dreary desert and a gloomy waste.
Desert
A tract, which may be capable of sustaining a population, but has been left unoccupied and uncultivated; a wilderness; a solitary place.
He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord.
Before her extendedDreary and vast and silent, the desert of life.
Desert
Of or pertaining to a desert; forsaken; without life or cultivation; unproductive; waste; barren; wild; desolate; solitary; as, they landed on a desert island.
He . . . went aside privately into a desert place.
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,And waste its sweetness on the desert air.
Desert
To leave (especially something which one should stay by and support); to leave in the lurch; to abandon; to forsake; - implying blame, except sometimes when used of localities; as, to desert a friend, a principle, a cause, one's country.
Desert
To abandon (the service) without leave; to forsake in violation of duty; to abscond from; as, to desert the army; to desert one's colors.
Desert
To abandon a service without leave; to quit military service without permission, before the expiration of one's term; to abscond.
The soldiers . . . deserted in numbers.
Desert
An arid region with little or no vegetation
Desert
Leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch;
The mother deserted her children
Desert
Desert (a cause, a country or an army), often in order to join the opposing cause, country, or army;
If soldiers deserted Hitler's army, they were shot
Desert
Located in a dismal or remote area; desolate;
A desert island
A godforsaken wilderness crossroads
A wild stretch of land
Waste places