The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Desert \De*sert"\ (d[-e]*z[~e]rt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Deserted; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserting.] [Cf. L. desertus,
   p. p. of deserere to desert, F. d['e]serter. See 2d
   Desert.]
   1. 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. "The deserted fortress." --Prescott.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Mil.) 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.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

deserted \deserted\ adj.
   1. having no residents; as, deserted villages.

   Syn: uninhabited.
        [WordNet 1.5]

   2. no longer used by people.

   Syn: abandoned, derelict.
        [WordNet 1.5]

   3. remote from civilization; as, the victim was lured to a
      deserted spot.
      [WordNet 1.5]

   4. being left by another without support or assistance; left
      in the lurch; -- of people; as, deserted wives and
      children.

   Note: In this sense, the label implies some level of
         dependence of the person(s) being deserted on those
         deserting them.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

deserted
    adj 1: forsaken by owner or inhabitants ; "weed-grown yard of an
           abandoned farmhouse" [syn: abandoned, derelict,
           deserted]