chlorosis

(klə rōsis)

noun

  1. an abnormal condition of plants in which the green parts lose their color or turn yellow as a result of a lack of chlorophyll production due to disease, lack of light, etc.
  2. a form of iron-deficiency anemia sometimes affecting girls at puberty and causing the skin to turn a greenish color

Origin: ModL: see chlor(o)- & -osis

Related Forms:

See chlorosis in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Botany The yellowing or whitening of normally green plant tissue because of a decreased amount of chlorophyll, often as a result of disease or nutrient deficiency.
  2. Pathology An iron-deficiency anemia, primarily of young women, characterized by a greenish-yellow discoloration of the skin. Also called greensickness.

Related Forms:

  • chlo·rotˈic (-rŏtˈĭk) adjective
  • chlo·rotˈi·cal·ly adverb

Learn more about chlorosis

link/cite print suggestion box