defoliate

[ verb dee-foh-lee-eyt; adjective dee-foh-lee-it, -eyt ]

verb (used with object),de·fo·li·at·ed, de·fo·li·at·ing.
  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),de·fo·li·at·ed, de·fo·li·at·ing.
  1. to lose leaves.

adjective
  1. (of a tree) having lost its leaves, especially by a natural process.

Origin of defoliate

1
1785–1795; <Medieval Latin dēfoliātus, past participle of dēfoliāre, equivalent to Latin dē-de- + foli(um) leaf + -ātus-ate1

Other words from defoliate

  • de·fo·li·a·tion, noun
  • de·fo·li·a·tor, noun
  • un·de·fo·li·at·ed, adjective

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How to use defoliate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for defoliate

defoliate

verb(diːˈfəʊlɪˌeɪt)
  1. to deprive (a plant) of its leaves, as by the use of a herbicide, or (of a plant) to shed its leaves

adjective(diːˈfəʊlɪɪt)
  1. (of a plant) having shed its leaves

Origin of defoliate

1
C18: from Medieval Latin dēfoliāre, from Latin de- + folium leaf

Derived forms of defoliate

  • defoliation, noun
  • defoliator, noun

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