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
However, only certain plants and animals are made to thrive in deciduous forests.
—Mariyam Muhammad, The Enquirer, 16 Sep. 2024
Sure, the deciduous forests change in September, but most of the color in Rainier comes from the shrubs and ground cover that blanket the vast meadows surrounding that famous three-summited mountain amid 26 glaciers.
—Graham Averill, Outside Online, 16 Sep. 2024
The landscape includes deciduous forests as well as lakes, coves, waterfalls, and caves.
—Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2024
The 320-acre evergreen and deciduous tree farm in the eastern part of Hampstead was established in 1968 and has grown since being purchased by the Myers family in 1993, according to the farm’s website.
—Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for deciduous 
Mariyam Muhammad, The Enquirer, 16 Sep. 2024
Sure, the deciduous forests change in September, but most of the color in Rainier comes from the shrubs and ground cover that blanket the vast meadows surrounding that famous three-summited mountain amid 26 glaciers.
—Graham Averill, Outside Online, 16 Sep. 2024
The landscape includes deciduous forests as well as lakes, coves, waterfalls, and caves.
—Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2024
The 320-acre evergreen and deciduous tree farm in the eastern part of Hampstead was established in 1968 and has grown since being purchased by the Myers family in 1993, according to the farm’s website.
—Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for deciduous
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deciduous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Deciduous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deciduous. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.
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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