marcescent

[ mahr-ses-uhnt ]

adjectiveBotany.
  1. withering but not falling off, as a part of a plant.

Origin of marcescent

1
1720–30; <Latin marcēscent-, stem of marcēscēns (present participle of marcēscere to wither, shrivel), equivalent to marc(ēre) to wither + -ēscent--escent

Other words from marcescent

  • mar·ces·cence, noun

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British Dictionary definitions for marcescent

marcescent

/ (mɑːˈsɛsənt) /


adjective
  1. (of the parts of certain plants) remaining attached to the plant when withered

Origin of marcescent

1
C18: from Latin marcescere to grow weak, from marcēre to wither

Derived forms of marcescent

  • marcescence, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for marcescent

marcescent

[ mär-sĕsənt ]


  1. Withering but not falling off, as a blossom that persists on a twig after flowering. Many oaks have marcescent foliage that stays on the tree through winter.

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