chlorosis

[ klaw-roh-sis, kloh- ]
See synonyms for chlorosis on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an abnormally yellow color of plant tissues, resulting from partial failure to develop chlorophyll, caused by a nutrient deficiency or the activities of a pathogen.

  2. Also called greensickness. Pathology. a benign type of iron-deficiency anemia in adolescent girls, marked by a pale yellow-green complexion.

Origin of chlorosis

1
First recorded in 1675–85; chlor-1 + -osis

Other words from chlorosis

  • chlo·rot·ic [klaw-rot-ik, kloh-], /klɔˈrɒt ɪk, kloʊ-/, adjective
  • chlo·rot·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby chlorosis

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How to use chlorosis in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chlorosis

chlorosis

/ (klɔːˈrəʊsɪs) /


noun
  1. Also called: greensickness pathol a disorder, formerly common in adolescent girls, characterized by pale greenish-yellow skin, weakness, and palpitation and caused by insufficient iron in the body

  2. botany a deficiency of chlorophyll in green plants caused by mineral deficiency, lack of light, disease, etc, the leaves appearing uncharacteristically pale

Origin of chlorosis

1
C17: from chloro- + -osis

Derived forms of chlorosis

  • chlorotic (klɔːˈrɒtɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for chlorosis

chlorosis

[ klə-rōsĭs ]


  1. The yellowing or whitening of normally green plant tissue because of loss or decreased production of chlorophyll, often as a result of disease, insufficient light, or inadequate sources of iron and magnesium.

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