to ring-bark

9.3

To cut away a ring of a tree's outer layer around the trunk so it dies

verb

Specialized

: anillar

If you ring-bark a tree, it will usually die within a year.

Examples

They accidentally ring-barked the young sapling while removing vines.
The farmer ring-barked several trees to clear space for new crops.
Don't ring-bark that tree without permission!
They ring-barked the old oak tree.
To increase sunlight exposure for their garden, they decided to ring-bark the eucalyptus tree.
When a tree is ring-barked, it cuts off the nutrients and water, leading to its death.
The workers carefully ring-barked the diseased branches to prevent the infection from spreading.

Synonyms

to skin

vsto ring-bark

2 9.0

To remove the bark from a tree

is done in a full circle to stop flow and usually kill the tree

to girdle

vsto ring-bark

Specialized

1 9.0

To cut a ring around a tree trunk to stop the flow of water and nutrients

is the same circular removal that typically causes the tree to die

to debark

vsto ring-bark

Specialized

7.5

To take the bark off a tree or log

is a circular removal that cuts off nutrient flow and usually kills the tree

Antonyms

to protect

∞ 1.0

To keep someone or something safe from harm

to nurture

155 3.5

To care for and encourage someone or something to grow

Surface Forms

ring-bark infinitive

ring-barked past

ring-barked past participle

ring-barking present participle

ring-barks third person singular

Morphology

ring-bark = ring + bark (transparent) = ring + bark

The meaning is a direct combination of 'ring' (a circular band) and 'bark' (tree covering): to remove a ring of bark.

Etymology

Ring-bark joins ring ('a complete circle') and bark ('the tree's outer skin'), and it means to cut a circle of bark all the way around a trunk. Doing this removes the living layer that moves food in the tree, so the tree usually dies — that's why to ring-bark a tree is to kill it.