deciduous

2 synonyms and 2 antonyms for deciduous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Of a tree or shrub: shedding all its leaves each year, usually in autumn, and growing new ones in spring.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

temporary

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

shedding

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Of a tree or shrub: shedding all its leaves each year, usually in autumn, and growing new ones in spring.

“Oak, maple and birch are deciduous, so the wood is bare by November.”

Opposites

evergreen

2. adjective

Of a part of an animal or plant: falling off naturally at a particular stage of growth or season.

“A child's deciduous teeth are replaced by permanent ones from about the age of six.”

shedding temporary

Opposites

permanent

How to use deciduous

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

deciduous tree deciduous woodland deciduous forest deciduous teeth

Neutral; standard in biology, gardening and dentistry.

Etymology

From Latin deciduus 'falling off', from decidere, formed from de- 'down' and cadere 'to fall'.

Full origin of deciduous →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees?

Deciduous trees drop all their leaves at once each year and stand bare for a season. Evergreens keep leaves or needles all year round, shedding and replacing them a few at a time so they never look bare.

Are deciduous teeth the same as baby teeth?

Yes. Deciduous teeth is the dental term for the first set of about twenty teeth, also called milk teeth or baby teeth, which fall out to make room for adult teeth.

Why do deciduous trees lose their leaves?

Dropping leaves saves water and energy through the cold, dark months, when photosynthesis would return little and frozen ground makes water hard to draw up.

People also searched

permanent temporary shedding evergreen

Nearby words

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