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deciduous

 - 5 dictionary results

de⋅cid⋅u⋅ous

  [di-sij-oo-uhs]
Use deciduous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. shedding the leaves annually, as certain trees and shrubs.
2. falling off or shed at a particular season, stage of growth, etc., as leaves, horns, or teeth.
3. not permanent; transitory.
Origin:
1650–60; < L dēciduus tending to fall, falling, equiv. to dēcid(ere) to fall off, down (dē- de- + -cidere, comb. form of cadere to fall) + -uus deverbal adj. suffix; see -ous

Related forms:
de⋅cid⋅u⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
de⋅cid⋅u⋅ous⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To deciduous
de·cid·u·ous   (dĭ-sĭj'ōō-əs)   
adj.  

  1. Falling off or shed at a specific season or stage of growth: deciduous antlers; deciduous leaves; deciduous teeth.

  2. Shedding or losing foliage at the end of the growing season: deciduous trees.

  3. Not lasting; ephemeral.


[From Latin dēciduus, from dēcidere, to fall off : dē-, de- + cadere, to fall; see kad- in Indo-European roots.]
de·cid'u·ous·ly adv., de·cid'u·ous·ness n.
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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Word Origin & History

deciduous 
1688, from L. deciduus "that which falls off," from decidere "to fall off," from de- "down" + cadere "to fall" (see case (1)). Originally with reference to leaves, petals, teeth, etc.; specific sense of "trees whose leaves fall off" (opposed to evergreen) is from 1778.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: de·cid·u·ous
Pronunciation: di-'sij-&-w&s
Function: adjective
1 : falling off or shed at a certain stage inthe life cycle
2 : having deciduous parts deciduous dentition>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

deciduous de·cid·u·ous (dĭ-sĭj'&oomacr;-əs)
adj.

  1. Falling off or shed at a specific stage of growth, as teeth of the first dentition.

  2. Of, relating to, or being the first or primary dentition.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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