abscise

[ab-sahyz]

verb (used without object), ab·scised, ab·scis·ing. Botany.

to separate by abscission, as a leaf from a stem.

Origin of abscise

1605–15; < Latin abscīsus cut off (past participle of abscīdere), equivalent to abs- abs- + -cīdere, combining form of caedere to cut

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British Dictionary definitions for abscise

abscise

verb

to separate or be separated by abscission

Word Origin for abscise

C17: from Latin abscisus, from abscīdere to cut off

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