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caducous

 - 3 dictionary results

ca⋅du⋅cous

  [kuh-doo-kuhs, -dyoo-]
Use caducous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. Botany. dropping off very early, as leaves.
2. Zoology. subject to shedding.
3. transitory; perishable.
Origin:
1675–85; < L cadūcus unsteady, perishable, equiv. to cad(ere) to fall + -ūcus adj. suffix; see -ous
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To caducous
ca·du·cous   (kə-dōō'kəs, -dyōō'-)   
adj.  Dropping off or shedding at an early stage of development, as the gills of most amphibians or the sepals or stipules of certain plants.

[From Latin cadūcus, falling, from cadere, to fall; see kad- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Science Dictionary
caducous   (kə-d'kəs)  Pronunciation Key 
Detaching or dropping off at an early stage of development. The gills of most amphibians and the sepals or stipules of certain plants are caducous.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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