denude

de·nude

verb \di-ˈn(y)üd, dē-\

de·nud·edde·nud·ing

Definition of DENUDE

transitive verb

1

: to deprive of something important

2

a : to strip of all covering or surface layers b : to lay bare by erosion c : to strip (land) of forests

— de·nu·da·tion \ˌdē-(ˌ)n(y)ü-ˈdā-shən, ˌden-yu̇-\ noun

— de·nude·ment \di-ˈn(y)üd-mənt\ noun

Examples of DENUDE

1. Excessive logging has denuded the hillside of trees.

Origin of DENUDE

Middle English, from Latin denudare, from de- + nudus bare — more at naked

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

Rhymes with DENUDE

allude, blood feud, collude, conclude, delude, elude, exclude, extrude, exude, fast-food, health food, include, intrude, junk food, obtrude, occlude, plant food, postlude, preclude, prelude, protrude, quaalude, seafood, seclude, subdued, transude, unglued