defoliant

[dee-foh-lee-uh nt]

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noun

a preparation for defoliating plants.

Origin of defoliant

First recorded in 1940–45; defoli(ate) + -ant

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for defoliant

pesticide, fungicide, defoliant, insecticide, weedkiller, DDT, paraquat, herbicide

British Dictionary definitions for defoliant

defoliant

noun

a chemical sprayed or dusted onto trees to cause their leaves to fall, esp to remove cover from an enemy in warfare

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

Word Origin and History for defoliant

adj.

1943, from defoliate + -ant.