etiolate (redirected from etiolating)

e·ti·o·late  (t--lt)

v. e·ti·o·lat·ed, e·ti·o·lat·ing, e·ti·o·lates

v.tr.

1. Botany To cause (a plant) to develop without chlorophyll by preventing exposure to sunlight.

2.

a. To cause to appear pale and sickly: a face that was etiolated from years in prison.

b. To make weak by stunting the growth or development of.

v.intr. Botany

To become blanched or whitened, as when grown without sunlight.

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[French étioler, from Norman French étieuler, to grow into haulm, from éteule, stalk, from Old French esteule, from Vulgar Latin *stupula, from Latin stipula.]

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eti·o·lation n.

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etiolate [ee-tee-oh-late]

Verb

[-lating, -lated]

1. Formal to become or cause to become weak

2. Bot to make a green plant paler through lack of sunlight [French étioler to make pale]

etiolation n

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	etiolate - make weak by stunting the growth or development of weaken - lessen the strength of; "The fever weakened his body"
	2.	etiolate - bleach and alter the natural development of (a green plant) by excluding sunlight plant life, flora, plant - (botany) a living organism lacking the power of locomotion alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
	3.	etiolate - make pale or sickly; "alcohol etiolates your skin" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
Adj.	1.	etiolate - (especially of plants) developed without chlorophyll by being deprived of light; "etiolated celery" etiolated, blanched plant life, flora, plant - (botany) a living organism lacking the power of locomotion colorless, colourless - weak in color; not colorful