deciduous
dih-SIJ-oo-us
/dɪˈsɪdʒ.u.əs/
Shedding leaves annually; falling off at a specific season or stage of growth.
Used scientifically for trees that drop leaves in autumn or for non-permanent teeth ('deciduous teeth').
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'deciduus' (that which falls off), from 'decidere' ('de-' meaning down, and 'cadere' meaning to fall). It shares a root with words like 'accident' (that which falls upon us) and 'cascade'.
Word relationships
- broad-leaved: A descriptive plant shape trait; many broad-leaved trees are deciduous, but not all.
- evergreen: Retaining green leaves continuously throughout all seasons.
- perennial: 'Perennial' refers to overall plant life span rather than leaf-shedding habits.
Commonly confused with
- coniferous: 'Coniferous' means cone-bearing (often evergreen), whereas 'deciduous' means leaf-dropping.
Word family
- deciduousness (noun): The state or quality of shedding foliage seasonally.
Collocations
- deciduous forest
- deciduous trees
- deciduous foliage
- deciduous species
Example sentences
- "Deciduous trees like oak and maple shed their broad leaves before winter sets in." Forestry science
- "Children lose their deciduous teeth to make room for permanent adult teeth." Anatomical usage
Memory hook
DE-CID-uous: leaves DECIDE to DROP down in fall. Leaves fall off every autumn.
When not to use
Do not use to mean generally 'dying' or 'fading'; it specifically means shedding seasonally as part of a natural recurring cycle.
Fun facts
- Trees drop their leaves in winter to conserve water because frozen soil prevents roots from pumping moisture to leaf surfaces!
Related words
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