abscission
noun
ab·scis·sion
ab-ˈsi-zhən 
1
: the act or process of cutting off : removal
2
: the natural separation of flowers, fruit, or leaves from plants at a special separation layer
Examples of abscission in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In an effort to prevent more damage, trees form an abscission layer between their branches and leaves, preventing water and nutrients from getting to the leaves, Pastelok said.
—
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
During the fall, a layer of cells form at the stem of a leaf called an abscission layer, closing off all the vessels that transport water to the leaf, according to Worthely.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2025
In fall, the flow stops, the leaves begin to die and an abscission layer forms at the end of each leaf stalk.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
Keeping the leaves tells us a growth process of forming an abscission layer that causes the leaves to drop did not occur, and at least that portion of the plant is dead.
—Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2023
It’s a process called abscission, Tauscher said, where the trees retrench those chemicals and release the leaf.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Oct. 2021
As the nights grow longer, there is not enough sunlight available for the food manufacturing to be efficient, plant hormones — the plant administrators, cause an abscission layer to form at the bottom of the leaf blocking raw materials from entering the leaf.
—Kevin Dayhoff, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 2 Oct. 2020
Day length triggers the trees to lay down an abscission layer, which in turn shuts down the chlorophyll generation.
—John Meyer, The Know, 24 Sep. 2019
Eventually, as the veins in the leaf close down, a layer of cells called the abscission layer forms at the base of the leaf stem before falling off.
—Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland.com, 3 Nov. 2017
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Saleen Martin, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
During the fall, a layer of cells form at the stem of a leaf called an abscission layer, closing off all the vessels that transport water to the leaf, according to Worthely.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 19 Aug. 2025
In fall, the flow stops, the leaves begin to die and an abscission layer forms at the end of each leaf stalk.
—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
Keeping the leaves tells us a growth process of forming an abscission layer that causes the leaves to drop did not occur, and at least that portion of the plant is dead.
—Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2023
It’s a process called abscission, Tauscher said, where the trees retrench those chemicals and release the leaf.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Oct. 2021
As the nights grow longer, there is not enough sunlight available for the food manufacturing to be efficient, plant hormones — the plant administrators, cause an abscission layer to form at the bottom of the leaf blocking raw materials from entering the leaf.
—Kevin Dayhoff, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 2 Oct. 2020
Day length triggers the trees to lay down an abscission layer, which in turn shuts down the chlorophyll generation.
—John Meyer, The Know, 24 Sep. 2019
Eventually, as the veins in the leaf close down, a layer of cells called the abscission layer forms at the base of the leaf stem before falling off.
—Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland.com, 3 Nov. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Abscission.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abscission. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
abscission
noun
ab·scis·sion
ab-ˈsizh-ən
1
: the act or process of cutting off
2
: the natural separation of flowers, fruit, or leaves from plants
Medical Definition
abscission
noun
ab·scis·sion
ab-ˈsizh-ən
: the act or process of cutting off : ablation
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