epiphytotic

[ ep-uh-fahy-tot-ik ]
/ ˌɛp ə faɪˈtɒt ɪk /

adjective

(of a disease) destroying a large number of plants in an area at the same time.

noun

the widespread, destructive outbreak of a plant disease.

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Origin of epiphytotic

First recorded in 1895–1900; epi- + -phyte + -otic

Words nearby epiphytotic

epiphysial plate, epiphysiolysis, epiphysis, epiphysitis, epiphyte, epiphytotic, epipial, epiplo-, epiploic, epiploic appendix, epiploic foramen
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for epiphytotic

epiphytotic
/ (ˌɛpɪfaɪˈtɒtɪk) /

adjective

(of plant diseases and parasites) affecting plants over a wide geographical region

Word Origin for epiphytotic

from epi- + -phyte + -otic
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 epiphytotic

epiphytotic
[ ĕp′ə-fī-tŏt′ĭk ]

Relating to or characterized by a sudden or abnormally destructive outbreak of a plant disease, usually over an extended geographic area.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.