abscission
/æb'siʤn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The act of cutting something off: The process or action of removing something by cutting it away.
- The natural shedding of plant parts: In botany, the process by which a plant sheds leaves, flowers, or fruit following the formation of a specialized layer of cells (scar tissue) that allows the part to separate cleanly from the main body.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The surgeon performed an abscission of the tumor. (The surgeon carried out the cutting off of the tumor.)
- In autumn, the abscission of leaves is a beautiful and vital process for many trees. (In autumn, the shedding of leaves is a beautiful and vital process for many trees.)
Advanced Usage
- "Abscission layer": A specialized layer of cells that forms at the base of a leaf, flower, or fruit stem, facilitating its clean separation from the plant.
- The formation of the abscission layer is triggered by changes in hormone levels.
- "Abscission zone": The specific region in a plant where the abscission layer forms.
- The abscission zone is structurally weaker than the surrounding tissue.
Variants and Related Words
- Abscise (verb): To shed or cut off by abscission.
- The plant will abscise its old leaves.
- Abscisic acid (noun): A plant hormone that plays a key role in processes like abscission and dormancy.
- Abscisic acid is often called the 'stress hormone' in plants.
Synonyms
- Excision: The act of cutting out or off, especially surgically.
- Removal: The act of taking something away.
- Shedding: The process of getting rid of something naturally (e.g., leaves, skin).
- Detachment: The action of disconnecting or separating something.
Related Phrases
- To undergo abscission: To experience the process of being shed or cut off.
- The ripe fruit is ready to undergo abscission.
- To induce abscission: To cause or trigger the shedding process.
- The drought induced premature abscission of the flowers.
Related Idioms
(There are no common idioms directly using the word "abscission." It is a technical term.)
Noun
- the act of cutting something off
- shedding of flowers and leaves and fruit following formation of scar tissue in a plant