deciduous
adjective
de·cid·u·ous
di-ˈsi-jə-wəs 
-jü-əs
1
biology
: falling off or shed seasonally or at a certain stage of development in the life cycle
deciduous leaves
deciduous scales
2
biology
a
: having deciduous parts
maples, birches, and other deciduous trees
deciduous dentition
b
: having the dominant plants deciduous
a deciduous forest
3
: ephemeral
There is much that is deciduous in books …—
J. R. Lowell
J. R. Lowell
deciduousness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of deciduous in a Sentence
the bare branches of a deciduous tree in winter
he chose not to fret about the deciduous discomforts of his existence
Recent Examples on the Web
Snowdrops set leaves and bloom before many deciduous trees leaf out.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2025
February • Implement disease and insect control for apple, pear, stone fruits, nut trees, and deciduous landscape trees and shrubs such as roses.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2025
The deciduous hollies are loaded with fruit, and with the absence of the leaves, their bright red or orange berries really shine.
—Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 3 Jan. 2025
Some azaleas are deciduous and lose all their leaves in the fall but losing some leaves is natural for evergreen varieties.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deciduous 
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Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2025
February • Implement disease and insect control for apple, pear, stone fruits, nut trees, and deciduous landscape trees and shrubs such as roses.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2025
The deciduous hollies are loaded with fruit, and with the absence of the leaves, their bright red or orange berries really shine.
—Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 3 Jan. 2025
Some azaleas are deciduous and lose all their leaves in the fall but losing some leaves is natural for evergreen varieties.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deciduous
Articles Related to deciduous
Dictionary Entries Near deciduous
Cite this Entry
“Deciduous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deciduous. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deciduous
adjective
de·cid·u·ous
di-ˈsij-ə-wəs
1
: falling off (as at the end of a growing period or stage of development)
antlers are deciduous
deciduous leaves
2
: having deciduous parts or members with deciduous parts
deciduous trees
a deciduous forest
Medical Definition
deciduous
adjective
de·cid·u·ous
di-ˈsij-ə-wəs
1
: falling off or shed at a certain stage in the life cycle
2
: having deciduous parts
a deciduous dentition
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