de·fo·li·ate [ dee fṓlee àyt ](past and past participlede·fo·li·at·ed, present participlede·fo·li·at·ing, 3rd person present singularde·fo·li·ates)
transitive and intransitive verb
Definition:
strip or lose leaves: to strip trees and plants of their leaves, e.g. by using chemicals or through pollution or attack by pests, or lose leaves in any of these ways
[Late 18th century. < late Latin defoliat-, past participle of defoliare< Latin folium "leaf, page"]
