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ensile

[en-sahyl, en-sahyl]
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verb (used with object), en·siled, en·sil·ing.
  1. to preserve (green fodder) in a silo.
  2. to make into ensilage.
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Origin of ensile

1880–85; < French ensiler < Spanish ensilar, equivalent to en- en-1 + -silar, verbal derivative of silo silo
Related formsen·si·la·bil·i·ty, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for ensile

Historical Examples

  • Ensile is the verb expressive of the action of making silage.

    Secrets of Wise Men, Chemists and Great Physicians

    William K. David

  • Ensilor stands for the person using the silo to ensile fodder for silage by the process of ensilage.

British Dictionary definitions for ensile

ensile

verb (tr)
  1. to store and preserve (green fodder) in an enclosed pit or silo
  2. to turn (green fodder) into silage by causing it to ferment in a closed pit or silo
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Derived Formsensilability, noun

Word Origin

C19: from French ensiler, from Spanish ensilar, from en- 1 + silo silo
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