deciduous

adjective

de·​cid·​u·​ous di-ˈsi-jə-wəs 

-jü-əs

1

biology : falling off or shed seasonally or at a certain stage of development in the life cycle

deciduous leaves

deciduous scales

2

biology

a

: having deciduous parts

maples, birches, and other deciduous trees

deciduous dentition

b

: having the dominant plants deciduous

a deciduous forest

3

: ephemeral

There is much that is deciduous in books …

—J. R. Lowell

deciduousness noun

Synonyms

• brief
• ephemeral
• evanescent
• flash
• fleeting
• fugacious
• fugitive
• impermanent
• momentary
• passing
• short-lived
• temporary
• transient
• transitory

Examples of deciduous in a Sentence

the bare branches of a deciduous tree in winter

he chose not to fret about the deciduous discomforts of his existence

Recent Examples on the Web

Even a deciduous tree can suffer injury or death to part of the root system if conditions are too dry in the winter. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024

Delay deciduous fruit tree prunings until next month; citrus pruning until mid-February. 40. —Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Nov. 2024

Tree Guards Tree guards protect the bark of deciduous trees from antler rubbing. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2024

Correspondent Conor Knighton travels to where foliage fans bask in the vibrant colors of the larch tree, a deciduous conifer whose pine-like needles are ablaze in orange and yellow. —David Morgan, CBS News, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin deciduus, from decidere to fall off, from de- + cadere to fall — more at chance

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing deciduous

• deciduous tooth

Kids Definition

deciduous

adjective

de·​cid·​u·​ous di-ˈsij-ə-wəs 

1

: falling off (as at the end of a growing period or stage of development)

antlers are deciduous

deciduous leaves

2

: having deciduous parts or members with deciduous parts

deciduous trees

a deciduous forest

Medical Definition

deciduous

adjective

de·​cid·​u·​ous di-ˈsij-ə-wəs 

1

: falling off or shed at a certain stage in the life cycle

2

: having deciduous parts

a deciduous dentition