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to denude

to denude

5 7.8
To remove a covering from something, leaving it bare
  • verb
  • /dɪˈnjud/
translation icon : desnudar
  • You know better than to denude a hillside during the wettest winter.
  • denuded land
  • denuded zone
  • denuded area

Examples

  • The loss of those prized shade trees denuded hundreds of tree-lined streets in towns and cities across the country.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Surely they can manage to grow something on those denuded hillsides to substitute for the dirt.

    Blog text (4)
  • If you require the importation of resources, it means you've denuded the landscape of that particular resource.

  • The valley is laced with canals, stone dwellings, and denuded hillsides.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The crisscrossing trails led to altars and to the denuded edges of Panther Spring, where many people came to collect water.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Hardy and well-adapted, these plants help hold soil in place and revegetate lands denuded by wildfire or disturbed by mining.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The storm denuded the trees, leaving them bare and vulnerable.

  • Farmers decided to denude the fields of weeds before planting new crops.

  • The erosion process continued to denude the mountains, stripping away their protective soil.

Synonyms

to strip
vsto denude
42 2.7

Remove all covering or contents from an object so it is left bare

focuses more broadly on removing any covering rather than all contents
to bare
vsto denude
31 4.1

To show something that was hidden, often feelings or body parts

limits focus to physical removal of coverings rather than revealing emotions
to clear away
vsto denude
10 1.8

To take things away from a place to make it tidy

involves clearing for tidiness rather than stripping a surface to expose it
to peel off
vsto denude
8 3.4

To take off the outer layer by pulling it

is not about method and covers any way of removing a covering
to clear off
vsto denude
8 3.0

Remove things from a surface to make it empty or clean

focuses on exposing surfaces by removing coverings rather than general tidying
to efface
vsto denude
2 8.1

To remove something so it is no longer visible or remembered

is about removing a physical covering to expose a surface rather than erasing
to denudate
vsto denude
  • Specialized
9.9

To remove plants and the top layer of soil from land so it becomes bare

is the general removal of any protective covering to expose something
to decorticate
vsto denude
  • Specialized
9.9

To remove the outer layer or covering from something, for example the bark of a tree

is broader, applying to any protective surface not just biological layers
to undrape
vsto denude
8.6

To take cloth coverings off something to show it

applies to any covering type, not only cloth or drapery
to uncase
vsto denude
7.8

To take something out of its cover

covers removing coverings generally, not just taking things from cases

Antonyms

571 1.0

A thing like a lid or blanket that lies over something to keep it safe

146 2.7

To protect someone or something from harm

How Bare

to strip
42 2.7
to denude
5 7.8
to clear
1.5
to expose
146 2.8

Surface Forms

denude infinitive
denuded past
denuded past participle
denuding present participle
denudes third person singular

Morphology

denude = nude (semi-transparent) = de + nude

The connection to 'nude' meaning 'bare' is clear, but learners may not reliably use the Latinate prefix 'de-' to infer the full verbal meaning 'strip bare'.

Etymology

Denude comes from the parts de- meaning 'remove' and nude meaning 'naked'. So to denude something is to make it 'naked' or bare by taking away its cover.