defoliate Hear it!

defoliate Definition

de·fo·li·ate (-āt′)

transitive verb defoliated -·at′ed, defoliating -·at′·ing

  1. to strip (trees, etc.) of leaves
  2. ☆ to use a defoliant on

Etymology: < LL defoliatus, pp. of defoliare < de-, from + folium, a leaf: see foliate

Related Forms:

defoliate Usage Examples

Object

  • forest: The military objective was to defoliate the forests which provided operational cover for Viet Kong and North Vietnamese forces.
  • crop: Most growers have managed to defoliate crops before the disease spread to tubers.
  • tree: South American ants can defoliate a tree or eat 30 square meters of Soya beans in a single night.

Browse dictionary entries near defoliate

  1. ‹ defoliant
  2. ‹ defogging
  3. ‹ defogger
  4. ‹ defogged
  5. ‹ defog
  6. ‹ Defoe
  7. ‹ deflower
  8. ‹ defloration
  9. ‹ deflexion
  10. ‹ deflexed
  1. defoliated ›
  2. defoliating ›
  3. defoliation ›
  4. defoliator ›
  5. deforce ›
  6. deforced ›
  7. deforcement ›
  8. deforciant ›
  9. deforcing ›
  10. deforest ›