Crossword clues for defoliation
The Collaborative International Dictionary
defoliation \de*fo`li*a"tion\, n. [LL. defoliare, defoliatum, to shed leaves; L. de- + folium leaf: cf. F. d['e]foliation.] The separation of ripened leaves from a branch or stem; the falling or shedding of the leaves.
2. the act or process of causing plants to lose their leaves, especially by application of a chemical agent.
Note: The deliberate defoliation of plants has been used in war (as in Vietnam) to deprive an enemy of cover and allow attack from the air; also, to destroy narcotic-producing plants as a tactic against illegal drug production. The chemical defoliating agents are often sprayed over large areas from airplanes.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. The separation of ripened leaves from a branch or stem; the falling or shedding of the leaves.
WordNet
n. the loss of foliage
causing the leaves of trees and other plants to fall off (as by the use of chemicals)
Usage examples of "defoliation".
Herbicides, primarily used in defoliation missions, destroyed everything green around special forces camps, major air bases, along canals, rivers, highways, and anything that would offer the enemy cover.
And interestingly when people want to paint the defoliation mission in a very dark picture, they go to that section of the river that we purposely did this to.
Kolchin said, coming back from his search-and-kill defoliation exercise and returning Cavanagh's knife to its sheath.
On the morning breeze came the strong scent of eucalyptus from the groves planted after the American defoliation of the area during the war.
The defoliation of Optera, the Invid homeworld, had been their first directive under the reconfigured imperative.
The reason for this can be traced back to the chaotic period following the defoliation of Optera by the Masters' newly created clone warriors.
The plundering, genocide, defoliation and gang rape that typified the peninsula's past had been toned down for the sake of Francis X.