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
Feed stone fruits, apples and other deciduous fruit trees with organic fruit tree fertilizer.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Temperate deciduous trees have begun invading the understory of conifers in the Northwoods because the warming climate has begun favoring them.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
Prune deciduous fruit trees to stimulate fruit production.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2024
The Congaree and Wateree Rivers flow through the park, helping to sustain one of the highest deciduous tree canopies in the world.
—Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2023
So does fall, when the deciduous splendor of the park unveils in washes of gold, red, and umber.
—Tracey Minkin, Southern Living, 12 July 2023
My Japanese maples are unfurling, and leaves are appearing on most of my deciduous shrubs.
—Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2024
Once new leaves and flowers emerge on deciduous fruit tree branches, feed them with fruit tree fertilizer.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2024
Priority watering starts with the most expensive and not easily replaced plants in any landscape: trees (both deciduous and evergreen).
—Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2024
Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Temperate deciduous trees have begun invading the understory of conifers in the Northwoods because the warming climate has begun favoring them.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
Prune deciduous fruit trees to stimulate fruit production.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2024
The Congaree and Wateree Rivers flow through the park, helping to sustain one of the highest deciduous tree canopies in the world.
—Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2023
So does fall, when the deciduous splendor of the park unveils in washes of gold, red, and umber.
—Tracey Minkin, Southern Living, 12 July 2023
My Japanese maples are unfurling, and leaves are appearing on most of my deciduous shrubs.
—Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2024
Once new leaves and flowers emerge on deciduous fruit tree branches, feed them with fruit tree fertilizer.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2024
Priority watering starts with the most expensive and not easily replaced plants in any landscape: trees (both deciduous and evergreen).
—Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2024
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.
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 16 Apr. 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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