Cryptic crossword clue
Cold packed in ice, dates awfully dry 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word DESICCATE

I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
D
E
S
I
C
C
A
T
E

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "dry" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case dry = desiccate.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does DESICCATE mean?

DESICCATE noun
  1. A substance which has been dessicated, that is, had its moisture removed.
DESICCATE verb
  1. To remove moisture from; to dry.
  2. To preserve by drying.
  3. To become dry; to dry up.
DESICCATE adjective
  1. Having had moisture removed; dehydrated, dessicated.

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