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.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
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
How to use deciduous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
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.