Definition of "defoliation" [de•fo•li•a•tion]

• The separation of ripened leaves from a branch or stem; the falling or shedding of the leaves. (noun)

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• "· the concentration and type of phenolic compound both vary with season and in response to stimuli such as defoliation;"
• "A few years ago, the USDA let loose thousands of leaf-eating Asian beetles in order to sic them on tamarisks, which die from the defoliation ..."
• "The defoliation of some garden plants is a small price to pay for pictures of visits such as these."