Definition of DECIDUOUS

1 : falling off or shed seasonally or at a certain stage of development in the life cycle <deciduous leaves><deciduous scales>

2 : having deciduous parts <maples, birches, and other deciduous trees> b : having the dominant plants deciduous <a deciduous forest>

3 : ephemeral

— de·cid·u·ous·ness noun Examples of DECIDUOUS

the bare branches of a deciduous tree in winter he chose not to fret about the deciduous discomforts of his existence



Origin of DECIDUOUS

Latin deciduus, from decidere to fall off, from de- + cadereto fall — more at chance

First Known Use: 1688

Related to DECIDUOUS Synonyms: brief, momentary, ephemeral, evanescent,flash, fleeting, fugacious, fugitive, impermanent, passing,short-lived, temporary, transient, transitory Antonyms: ceaseless, dateless, deathless, endless,enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, lasting, long-lived,permanent, perpetual, timeless, undying, unending

