noun
Refers to the state of being dry or the process of drying. Often used for thirst (喉の乾き) or dryness of the air, skin, etc.
喉の乾きを感じて、水を飲んだ。
Feeling thirsty, I drank some water.
空気の乾きが肌に良くない。
Dry air is not good for the skin.
乾く is the intransitive verb meaning 'to dry' or 'to become dry', while 乾き is the noun form referring to the state or process of drying.
Noun form of the verb 乾く (kawaku, 'to dry'), derived from the classical verb 乾く (kawaku). The kanji 乾 means 'dry' or 'drought'.