winter-kill

verb

win·​ter-kill ˈwin-tər-ˌkil 

winter-killed; winter-killing; winter-kills

transitive verb

: to kill (a plant or part of a plant) by exposure to winter conditions

intransitive verb

: to die as a result of exposure to winter conditions

winterkill

ˈwin-tər-ˌkil 

noun

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

winter-kill

verb

win·​ter-kill

ˈwint-ər-ˌkil

: to cause the death of (as a plant) through the effects of winter and especially cold

also : to die as a result of the effects of winter conditions and especially cold