preemergence

or pre-e·mer·gence

[ pree-i-mur-juhns ]

adjective

1. occurring or applied before the emergence of a plant from the soil:

   preemergence herbicide.

Word History and Origins

Origin of preemergence¹

First recorded in 1930–35; pre- + emergence

Example Sentences

Depending on the season, seedling diseases-which include preemergence damping off-can take a large percentage of the U.S. cotton crop.

From Time Magazine Archive