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
- brief
- ephemeral
- evanescent
- flash
- fleeting
- fugacious
- fugitive
- impermanent
- momentary
- passing
- short-lived
- temporary
- transient
- transitory
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 The Appalachian mountains are some of the oldest in the world, rich with deciduous hardwoods, medicinal plants, and edible delicacies like morels and ramps. Carter Sickels, Outside Online, 3 Sep. 2022 This deciduous native plant in the buckthorn family is a tenacious vine that forms an extremely strong stem. Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2022 The caraibeira tree, Tabebuia aurea, is a relatively small seasonally deciduous tree that is critically important to Spix’s little blue macaws. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 15 June 2022 According to Conway-Anderson, silvopasturing where pastures are interspersed with deciduous trees and pine stands offers benefits on both sides of the climate equation. Daniel Cusick, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2022 Herbaceous peonies die back to the ground each winter; tree peonies are permanent, deciduous shrubs that grow to a height 6 feet. Sunset Magazine, 13 July 2022 Good time to plant fruit trees and deciduous shrubs. oregonlive, 1 Feb. 2022 Find advice on when and how to prune many species of deciduous shrubs at mortonarb.org/pruning-deciduous-shrubs. Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 23 Jan. 2022 Fall leaf drop is normal for crape myrtles, which are deciduous shrubs or tree forms. Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Nov. 2021 See More
Carter Sickels, Outside Online, 3 Sep. 2022 This deciduous native plant in the buckthorn family is a tenacious vine that forms an extremely strong stem. Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2022 The caraibeira tree, Tabebuia aurea, is a relatively small seasonally deciduous tree that is critically important to Spix’s little blue macaws. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 15 June 2022 According to Conway-Anderson, silvopasturing where pastures are interspersed with deciduous trees and pine stands offers benefits on both sides of the climate equation. Daniel Cusick, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2022 Herbaceous peonies die back to the ground each winter; tree peonies are permanent, deciduous shrubs that grow to a height 6 feet. Sunset Magazine, 13 July 2022 Good time to plant fruit trees and deciduous shrubs. oregonlive, 1 Feb. 2022 Find advice on when and how to prune many species of deciduous shrubs at mortonarb.org/pruning-deciduous-shrubs. Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 23 Jan. 2022 Fall leaf drop is normal for crape myrtles, which are deciduous shrubs or tree forms. Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin deciduus, from decidere to fall off, from de- + cadere to fall — more at chance
First Known Use
1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing deciduous
Kids Definition
deciduous
adjective
de·cid·u·ous di-ˈsi-jə-wəs
: made up of or having a part that falls off at the end of a period of growth and use
deciduous trees
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
deciduous
adjective
as in temporary
lasting only for a short time he chose not to fret about the deciduous discomforts of his existence Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- temporary
- transient
- flash
- transitory
- ephemeral
- brief
- fugacious
- passing
- impermanent
- evanescent
- fleeting
- short-lived
- momentary
- short
- fugitive
- little
- shortish
- short-term
- acting
- provisional
- interim
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- permanent
- eternal
- everlasting
- lasting
- immortal
- enduring
- deathless
- timeless
- perpetual
- undying
- unending
- lifelong
- endless
- long-lived
- persistent
- ceaseless
- durable
- indestructible
- imperishable
- continuing
- dateless
- indefectible