DEFOLIATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does defoliate mean? 

• DEFOLIATE (adjective)
  The adjective DEFOLIATE has 1 sense:

1. deprived of leaves

  Familiarity information: DEFOLIATE used as an adjective is very rare.

• DEFOLIATE (verb)
  The verb DEFOLIATE has 1 sense:

1. strip the leaves or branches from

  Familiarity information: DEFOLIATE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEFOLIATE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Deprived of leaves

Synonyms:

defoliate; defoliated

Similar:

leafless (having no leaves)

• DEFOLIATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they defoliate    ... he / she / it defoliates   
Past simple: defoliated   
Past participle: defoliated   
-ing form: defoliating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Strip the leaves or branches from

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

defoliate the trees with pesticides

Hypernyms (to "defoliate" is one way to...):

bare; denudate; denude; strip (lay bare)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They defoliate the trees

Derivation:

defoliant (a chemical that is sprayed on plants and causes their leaves to fall off)

defoliation (causing the leaves of trees and other plants to fall off (as by the use of chemicals))

defoliation (the loss of foliage)

defoliator (an insect that strips the leaves from plants)