deoperculate

1 of 2

adjective

de·​operculate

¦dē+

1

: lacking an operculum

—used of the capsule of a moss or hepatic after the lid has fallen

2

: having an operculum that does not separate from the capsule

—used of mosses

deoperculate

2 of 2

intransitive verb

de·​oper·​cu·​late

ˌdēōˈpərkyəˌlāt

-ed/-ing/-s

: to shed or cast off the operculum

—used of mosses and liverworts

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

de- + operculate

Intransitive verb

de- + New Latin operculum + English -ate

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!