deciduous

/di'sidjuəs/

Thân thiện

The deciduous tree in the park has lost all its leaves for the winter.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Shedding leaves annually: Describes trees or shrubs that lose all their leaves for part of the year, typically in autumn.
   • Falling off or shed at maturity: Describes parts of an organism, such as teeth or antlers, that are naturally shed after a period of growth.

Usage and Examples

• Describing Trees and Plants:

  • Oak and maple are common deciduous trees in this forest.
  • The deciduous shrubs provide beautiful autumn color before they lose their leaves.

• Describing Biological Parts:

  • A child's deciduous teeth, also called baby teeth, will eventually fall out.
  • Deer have deciduous antlers that are shed and regrown each year.

Advanced Usage

• In Ecology/Botany: Used to describe a forest or biome dominated by trees that lose their leaves seasonally.
  • The temperate deciduous forest experiences four distinct seasons.
• Figurative Use: Occasionally used metaphorically to describe something transient or temporary.
  • His interest in the hobby was deciduous, fading away by winter.

Variants and Related Words

• Deciduousness (noun): The quality or state of being deciduous.
  • The deciduousness of the forest is a key factor in its ecosystem.

Synonyms

• Leaf-shedding
• Caducous (a more technical botanical/biological synonym)

Antonyms

• Evergreen (for plants)
• Permanent (for teeth or antlers)

Học thuật

Adjective

1. (of teeth, antlers, etc.) being shed at the end of a period of growth
   • deciduous teeth
2. (of plants and shrubs) shedding foliage at the end of the growing season