verb, -lat⋅ed, -lat⋅ing.| 1. | to cause (a plant) to whiten or grow pale by excluding light: to etiolate celery. |
| 2. | to cause to become weakened or sickly; drain of color or vigor. |
| 3. | (of plants) to whiten or grow pale through lack of light. |
etiolation e·ti·o·la·tion (ē'tē-ə-lā'shən)
n.
Paleness or pallor resulting from deprivation of light.
The process of blanching or making pale by withholding light.
| etiolation (ē'tē-ə-lā'shən) Pronunciation Key
A pathological condition of plants that grow in places that provide insufficient light, as under stones. It is characterized by elongated stems and pale color due to lack of chlorophyll. etiolate verb |