deciduous

English
WOTD – 24 August 2010

Etymology

From Latin dēciduus (“falling down or off”), from dēcidō (“fall down”).

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /dɪˈsɪd͡ʒ.ʊ.əs/
  • (US) IPA(key): /dɪˈsɪd͡ʒ.u.əs/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Adjective

deciduous (not comparable)

  1. (biology, anatomy) Describing a part that falls off, or is shed, at a particular time or stage of development.
    Antonyms: persistent, permanent
  2. (botany) Of or pertaining to trees which lose their leaves in winter or the dry season.
    Antonyms: evergreen, sempervirent
    Synonym: perdifoil. Compare caducous.
    a deciduous tree
  3. Transitory, ephemeral, not lasting.

Derived terms
English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱh₂d-‎ (0 c, 31 e)

Translations

Further reading
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