to infuscate
- verb
- /ɪnˈfʌskeɪt/
- Specialized
- The leaves infuscate during the autumn months.
Examples
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Some beetle species naturally infuscate the edges of their wing covers.
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The scientist noted that the wings appeared to infuscate after exposure to sunlight.
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As the seeds mature, their outer layer tends to infuscate, giving them a characteristic brown hue.
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Some species of insects infuscate to blend into their environment.
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As the seeds mature, their outer layer tends to infuscate, giving them a characteristic brown hue.
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The wings of some moths infuscate after exposure to light, taking on a darker appearance.
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Some species of insects infuscate their bodies to better blend into their surroundings.
Synonyms
To put color on something to change how it looks
To give a material or object a deep color
To add color to a small sample of cells so parts show under a microscope
To add color to something by applying a colored substance or by natural change
Antonyms
How Dark
Surface Forms
Morphology
infuscate = fuscate (opaque) = in + fusc + ate
The root 'fusc' is not a standalone English word, making the derivation less clear to learners.
Etymology
Infuscate comes from Latin parts in- 'in' and fuscus 'dark', the same root you see in the English word obfuscate 'to make unclear' or 'to darken' an idea. So to infuscate is to make something darker or to stain it with a brownish, dark color.