etiolate
pronunciation
How to pronounce etiolate in British English:
UK ['i:tɪəʊleɪt]
How to pronounce etiolate in American English:
US ['itɪrˌleɪt]
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- Verb:
- make weak by stunting the growth or development of
- bleach and alter the natural development of (a green plant) by excluding sunlight
- make pale or sickly
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- Adjective:
- (especially of plants) developed without chlorophyll by being deprived of light
Word Origin
- etiolate (v.)
- "turn (a plant) white by growing it in darkness," 1791, from French étiolé, past participle of étioler "to blanch" (17c.), perhaps literally "to become like straw," from Norman dialect étule "a stalk," Old French esteule "straw, field of stubble," from Latin stipula "straw" (see stipule). Related: Etiolated.