defoliator

de·fo·li·ate

 (dē-fō′lē-āt′)

v. de·fo·li·at·ed, de·fo·li·at·ing, de·fo·li·ates

v.tr.

1. To deprive (a plant or a vegetated area, for example) of leaves.

2. To cause the leaves of (a plant or plants) to fall off, especially by the use of chemicals.

v.intr.

To lose foliage.

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[Late Latin dēfoliāre, dēfoliāt- : Latin dē-, de- + Latin folium, leaf; see bhel- in Indo-European roots.]

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de·fo′li·ate (-ĭt) adj.

de·fo′li·a′tion n.

de·fo′li·a′tor n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

defoliator - an insect that strips the leaves from plants insect - small air-breathing arthropod

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.