What does defoliate mean?
Defoliate means (transitive) To remove foliage from (one or more plants), most often with a chemical agent..
Defoliate
/diːˈfəʊliː(j)eɪt/ · verb
Meaning
(transitive) To remove foliage from (one or more plants), most often with a chemical agent..
Definitions by Sense
- (transitive) To remove foliage from (one or more plants), most often with a chemical agent.
- Deprived of leaves; defoliated.
Example Sentences
Agent Orange was used to defoliate jungle vegetation.
These leaves are the moth’s only source of food, and if left unchecked, the caterpillars can completely defoliate a single mighty tree.
Synonyms for defoliate
Antonyms for defoliate
Related Words
Word Forms
- defoliates
- defoliating
- defoliated
- more defoliate
- most defoliate
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for defoliate?
Common synonyms include leafless, disafforest, disforest, defoliated.
What is the opposite of defoliate?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use defoliate in a sentence?
Agent Orange was used to defoliate jungle vegetation.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.