aphyllose
|a-phil-lose|
C2
🇺🇸
/əˈfɪloʊs/
🇬🇧
/əˈfɪləʊs/
without leaves
Etymology
Etymology Information
'aphyllose' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aphyllos', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'phyllon' meant 'leaf'.
Historical Evolution
'aphyllose' passed into botanical New Latin from Greek 'aphyllos' and was adopted into English botanical usage (19th century onward) as 'aphyllose' or the variant 'aphyllous'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'without leaves', and over time it has retained this core meaning in botanical contexts as 'leafless'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
without leaves; leafless (used especially in botanical descriptions).
Many succulents are aphyllose during prolonged drought, reducing water loss.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/16 12:54