winterkill

American  

[win-ter-kil] / ˈwɪn tərˌkɪl /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to kill by or die from exposure to the cold of winter, as wheat.

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noun

1. an act or instance of winterkilling.

2. death resulting from winterkilling.

winterkill British  

/ ˈwɪntəˌkɪl /

verb

1. to kill (crops or other plants) by exposure to frost, cold, etc, or (of plants) to die by this means

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Other Word Forms

• winterkilling adjective

Etymology

Origin of winterkill

First recorded in 1810–20; winter + kill ¹

Example Sentences

John Vore, game management bureau chief for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, tells the Helena Independent Record https://goo.gl/5ysBrN that in most parts of the state, winterkill was minimal.

From Washington Times • Aug. 20, 2017

But in the case of smaller, shallower lakes that are prone to winterkill, Weigel said, that’s not an option.

From Washington Times • Jul. 7, 2014

Plains and Midwest winter wheat belt the threat of winterkill remained low because of an insulating blanket of snow.

From Reuters • Dec. 13, 2013

Keeney said a cold snap this week may have caused some minor winterkill in areas of western Nebraska, and a blast of cold Arctic air is expected next week centered on the Midwest.

From Reuters • Jan. 15, 2013

In addition to winterkill, crowding probably resulted in a reduced rate of reproduction by channel catfish, and by other species as well.

From Fish Populations, Following a Drought, in the Neosho and Marais des Cygnes Rivers of Kansas by Deacon, James Everett