Meaning & use
deciduous
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivenot comparablebiology
Of trees or shrubs: shedding leaves annually, usually in autumn.
Grammar: Used before a noun: deciduous trees. Not usually compared.
Patterns
- deciduous tree
- deciduous forest
Oak and maple are deciduous trees that lose their leaves in fall.
The deciduous forest turns brilliant colors in October.
adjectivebefore a nounmedical
Of teeth: baby teeth that are shed and replaced by permanent teeth.
Grammar: Used in medical contexts: deciduous teeth.
Patterns
- deciduous teeth
Children typically have 20 deciduous teeth.
The dentist explained that deciduous teeth will eventually fall out.
Common combinations
- deciduous tree
- We planted a deciduous tree that will give shade in summer.
- deciduous forest
- The deciduous forest is home to many species of birds.
- deciduous shrub
- This deciduous shrub loses its leaves in winter.
- deciduous teeth
- The baby's deciduous teeth are starting to come in.
Synonyms and how they differ
Opposites
Commonly confused: deciduous or evergreen?
deciduous vs evergreen
Evergreen trees keep their leaves all year, while deciduous trees lose them in autumn.
Practice
Which of these is a deciduous tree?
Choose one answer.
Oak trees lose their leaves in autumn, so they are deciduous. Pine, spruce, and fir are evergreen trees that keep their leaves year-round.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “deciduous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.