ab·scis·sion 
(ăb-sĭzhən)
(ăb-sĭzhən)n.
1. The act of cutting off.
2. Botany The shedding of leaves, flowers, or fruits following the formation of the abscission zone.
[Latin abscissiō, abscissiōn-, from abscissus, past participle of abscindere, to cut off : ab-, ab- + scindere, to cut; see skei- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]