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preemergence

preemergence

7.8
Happening before plants appear to prevent weed growth
  • adjective
  • /priːˈɛmərdʒəns/
  • Specialized
translation icon : preemergente
  • Farmers often use preemergence herbicides to control weeds before crops sprout.

Examples

  • The gardener recommended a preemergence treatment to prevent unwanted plants from appearing.

  • A preemergence application can help ensure a cleaner field during the growing season.

  • Use preemergence herbicides wisely.

  • Don't forget to apply preemergence treatments!

  • Farmers often use preemergence herbicides to control weeds before crops sprout.

  • A preemergence application can help ensure a cleaner field during the growing season.

  • The gardener recommended a preemergence treatment to prevent unwanted plants from appearing.

Synonyms

preemergent
vspreemergence
  • Specialized
7.5

Put on soil before plants or weeds appear

names the timing or treatment that happens before seedlings emerge

Antonyms

postemergence
  • Specialized
7.6

Happening after crops come out of the soil

How Developed

to mature
91 3.5
postemergence
  • Specialized
7.6
emergent
  • Specialized
1 7.0
preemergence
  • Specialized
7.8

Surface Forms

preemergence positive

Morphology

preemergence = emergence (semi-transparent) = pre + emerge + ence

The adjective is directly understood as 'before emergence', a regular and semantically clear use of the prefix 'pre-'.

Etymology

Preemergence comes from the prefix pre- meaning 'before' and emerge meaning 'to come out'. So a preemergence weed killer is used before plants or weeds come out of the ground to stop them growing.