abscission
/æbˈsɪʒən/
noun
- The natural process by which a plant drops its leaves, fruits, or other parts, usually in autumn or when they are damaged or no longer needed.
- The tree's abscission of its leaves happens every fall to conserve water.
- Gardeners often notice abscission when a plant sheds its old flowers after blooming.
- Abscission helps the plant get rid of parts that are infected or no longer useful.
- The act of cutting off or separating something, especially in surgery or biology.
- The abscission of the rope was done quickly to free the trapped climber.
- The surgeon performed an abscission of the damaged tissue to prevent infection.
- In the lab, abscission of the cell from the group was observed under the microscope.
Synonyms