Main Entry: de·cid·u·ous

Pronunciation: \di-ˈsi-jə-wəs, -jü-əs\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin deciduus, from decidere to fall off, from de- + cadere to fall — more at chance

Date: 1688

1 : falling off or shed seasonally or at a certain stage of development in the life cycle <deciduous leaves> <deciduous scales>
2 a : having deciduous parts <maples, birches, and other deciduous trees> b : having the dominant plants deciduous <a deciduous forest>
3 : ephemeral

— de·cid·u·ous·ness noun