deciduous

Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (2)

  1. (of plants and shrubs) shedding foliage at the end of the growing season
  2. (of teeth, antlers, etc.) being shed at the end of a period of growth“deciduous teeth”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Deciduous \De*cid"u*ous\ (?; 135), a. [L. deciduus, fr. dec?dere to fall off; de- + cadere to fall. See Chance.] (Biol.) Falling off, or subject to fall or be shed, at a certain season, or a certain stage or interval of growth, as leaves (except of evergreens) in autumn, or as parts of animals, such as hair, teeth, antlers, etc.; also, shedding leaves or parts at certain seasons, stages, or intervals; as, deciduous trees; the deciduous membrane. [1913 Webster]
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