chlorosis

American  

[klaw-roh-sis, kloh-] / klɔˈroʊ sɪs, kloʊ- /

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.

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chlorosis British  

/ klɔːˈrəʊsɪs, klɔːˈrɒtɪk /

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

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chlorosis Scientific  

/ klə-rō′sĭs /

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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Other Word Forms

• chlorotic adjective
• chlorotically adverb

Etymology

Origin of chlorosis

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

Example Sentences

In 1936, chlorosis was officially demolished as a condition.

From Slate • Dec. 14, 2012

Victims of chlorosis were usually maidens in their middle teens.

From Time Magazine Archive

We inspected it several times a day, vigilant for signs of under- or overwatering, too much or too little sun, spider mites, drafts, chlorosis, general malaise.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

I leave to Gavarni, that poet of chlorosis, His hospital-beauties in troups that whirl, For I cannot discover amid his pale roses A flower to resemble my scarlet ideal.

From The Flowers of Evil by Baudelaire, Charles

Digestive disturbance, constipation, menstrual irregularities, chlorosis, general debility, lack of tone in the muscular fibres of the skin, scrofulosis; and medicinal substances such as the iodides and bromides internally, and tar externally.

From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Stelwagon, Henry Weightman