abscission

[ ab-sizh-uhn, -sish- ]

noun

1. the act of cutting off; sudden termination.
2. Botany. the normal separation of flowers, fruit, and leaves from plants.

abscission

/ -ˈsɪʃ-; æbˈsɪʒən /

noun

1. the separation of leaves, branches, flowers, and bark from plants by the formation of an abscission layer
2. the act of cutting off

abscission

/ ăb-sĭzh′ən /

1. The separation of a leaf, flower, or fruit from a plant as a result of natural structural and chemical changes.
2. ◆ The abscission zone is a layer of weak, thin-walled cells that form across the base of the plant part where the break eventually occurs. A corky layer containing suberin forms beneath the abscission zone to protect the plant.

Word History and Origins

Origin of abscission¹

First recorded in 1605–15, abscission is from the Latin word abscissiōn- (stem of abscissiō ). See abscissa, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of abscission¹

C17: from Latin abscissiōn-, from ab- ¹+ scissiō a cleaving