Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

defoliate

/diːˈfəʊliː(j)eɪt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.50 in modern English

Syllables: de-fo-li-ate
IPA: /diːˈfəʊliː(j)eɪt/

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To remove foliage from (one or more plants), most often with a chemical agent.

Transitive verb

adj

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."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃-der. Proto-Indo-European *bʰolh₃yom? Proto-Indo-European *dʰelh₁-der. Proto-Indo-European *dʰolh₁yom? Proto-Italic *foljom Latin folium Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātus Latin foliatusbor. English foliate English defoliate From de- + foliate.

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /diːˈfəʊliː(j)eɪt/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

defoliates (present, singular) defoliating (participle, present) defoliated (participle, past) defoliated (past) more defoliate (comparative) most defoliate (superlative)

Derived Forms

defoliant defoliation defoliator nondefoliating

Synonyms

defoliated

Questions

How do you pronounce defoliate?: The recorded pronunciation is /diːˈfəʊliː(j)eɪt/.
What does defoliate mean?: To remove foliage from (one or more plants), most often with a chemical agent.
Where does defoliate come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃-der. Proto-Indo-European *bʰolh₃yom? Proto-Indo-European *dʰelh₁-der. Proto-Indo-European *dʰolh₁yom? Proto-Italic *foljom Latin folium Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātus Latin foliatusbor. English foliate English defoliate From de- + foliate.

How to pronounce defoliate

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