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foliation

foliation

8.2
Leaves forming on a plant as it grows
  • noun
  • /ˌfoʊliˈeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : brotación
  • The foliation of the oak tree begins in early spring, as new leaves emerge from the buds.

Examples

  • Proper sunlight is essential for the foliation of many indoor plants, helping them produce healthy leaves.

  • During the study of botany, we learned about the foliation process that enables plants to thrive.

  • You mentioned this issue of foliation earlier, which we haven't touched on yet, but I think it's going to come in here.

Synonyms

leafing
vsfoliation
  • Specialized
1 3.1

The growth of new green parts on a plant that make food from sunlight

is about both leaf formation and later development rather than only emergence

Antonyms

defoliation
  • Specialized
1 7.0

Loss of leaves from trees and plants caused naturally or by chemicals

How Leafy

foliation
  • Specialized
8.2
sprouting
2 2.8

Surface Forms

foliation singular
foliations plural

Morphology

foliation = foliate (semi-transparent) = foli + ation

The sense 'formation or development of leaves' follows directly from 'foliate' ('leaf'-related), but the combining form 'foli-' may be unfamiliar to many learners.

Etymology

Foliation comes from the Latin folium meaning 'leaf' and is the same root as foliage, which means the leaves of a plant. So in botany, foliation is the process of leaves forming, like a plant growing its 'leaves'.