View synonyms for etiolate

etiolate

[ ee-tee-uh-leyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

, e·ti·o·lat·ed, e·ti·o·lat·ing.

to cause (a plant) to whiten or grow pale by excluding light:
to etiolate celery.
to cause to become weakened or sickly; drain of color or vigor.

verb (used without object)

, e·ti·o·lat·ed, e·ti·o·lat·ing.

(of plants) to whiten or grow pale through lack of light.

etiolate

/ ˈiːtɪəʊˌleɪt /

verb

botany to whiten (a green plant) through lack of sunlight
to become or cause to become pale and weak, as from malnutrition

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Derived Forms

ˌetioˈlation, noun

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Other Words From

eti·o·lation noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of etiolate¹

First recorded in 1785–95; < French étioler “to make pale, etiolate (plants),” probably derivative of a Norman French dialect form of standard French éteule, Old French estoble, estuble stubble; -ate ¹

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Word History and Origins

Origin of etiolate¹

C18: from French étioler to make pale, probably from Old French estuble straw, from Latin stipula

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Example Sentences

I can not believe that, to produce one roseate complexion, she must etiolate a thousand.

From Project Gutenberg

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April 23, 2024inveterate

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Étienne etiolation

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