Meaning & use
transpiration
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The process in which water passes through a plant and escapes as vapor from its leaves, stems, or flowers.
Grammar: Uncountable; used with 'the' or without an article: Transpiration cools the plant.
Patterns
- transpiration from leaves
- rate of transpiration
- transpiration in plants
Transpiration helps move water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves.
The rate of transpiration is higher on hot, dry days.
Scientists measured transpiration from the forest canopy.
noununcountable
The release of water vapor into the air by plants, especially as part of the water cycle.
Grammar: Often used in environmental or geographical contexts.
Patterns
- transpiration and evaporation
- transpiration in the water cycle
- plant transpiration
Transpiration and evaporation together return water to the atmosphere.
In the water cycle, transpiration from plants adds moisture to the air.
Deforestation can reduce transpiration and affect local rainfall.
Common combinations
- rate of transpiration
- The rate of transpiration increases in bright sunlight.
- transpiration from leaves
- Transpiration from leaves cools the plant.
- transpiration and evaporation
- Transpiration and evaporation are both part of the water cycle.
- plant transpiration
- Plant transpiration can be measured with special instruments.
Synonyms and how they differ
- evaporation
- Evaporation is the general process of liquid water turning into vapor, while transpiration is specifically the release of water vapor by plants.
- sweating
- Sweating is used for animals, especially humans; transpiration is the equivalent process in plants.
Word family
- transpire verb
- To release water vapor through leaves or skin; also means to happen.
Commonly confused: transpiration or respiration?
transpiration vs respiration
Respiration is the process of breathing or releasing energy from food, while transpiration is the loss of water vapor from plants.
Practice
In which process does water vapor leave a plant's leaves?
Choose one answer.
Transpiration is the loss of water vapor from plant parts, especially leaves. Respiration is about breathing or energy release, photosynthesis is how plants make food, and germination is seed sprouting.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “transpiration”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.