winterkill
/ˈwɪntərˌkɪl/
noun
- The death of plants, animals, or fish caused by winter weather conditions.
- Winterkill can be a serious problem for beekeepers in cold climates.
- The farmer assessed the winterkill in his wheat fields after the snow melted.
- The lake's winterkill left hundreds of dead fish along the shore.
verb
- To kill (plants, animals, or fish) by exposure to winter cold or harsh conditions.
- The sudden freeze winterkilled most of the young apple trees in the orchard.
- Many fish in the shallow pond winterkill when the ice cuts off oxygen.
- If we don't cover the garden, the frost will winterkill the lettuce.