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defoliation

 - 3 dictionary results

de⋅fo⋅li⋅ate

  [v. dee-foh-lee-eyt; adj. dee-foh-lee-it, -eyt] verb, -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing, adjective
Use defoliation in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to strip (a tree, bush, etc.) of leaves.
2. to destroy or cause widespread loss of leaves in (an area of jungle, forest, etc.), as by using chemical sprays or incendiary bombs, in order to deprive enemy troops or guerrilla forces of concealment.
–verb (used without object)
3. to lose leaves.
–adjective
4. (of a tree) having lost its leaves, esp. by a natural process.
Origin:
1785–1795; < ML dēfoliātus, ptp. of dēfoliāre, equiv. to L dē- de- + foli(um) leaf + -ātus -ate 1

Related forms:
de⋅fo⋅li⋅a⋅tion, noun
de⋅fo⋅li⋅a⋅tor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To defoliation
de·fo·li·ate   (dē-fō'lē-āt')   
v.   de·fo·li·at·ed, de·fo·li·at·ing, de·fo·li·ates

v.   tr.

  1. To deprive (a plant, tree, or forest) of leaves.

  2. To cause the leaves of (a plant, tree, or forest) to fall off, especially by the use of chemicals.

v.   intr.
To lose foliage.

[Late Latin dēfoliāre, dēfoliāt- : Latin dē-, de- + Latin folium, leaf; see bhel-3 in Indo-European roots.]
de·fo'li·ate (-ĭt) adj., de·fo'li·a'tion n., de·fo'li·a'tor 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

defoliation 
1659, from L.L. defoliatus, pp. of defoliare "shed leaves." Defoliant is from 1943.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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