The process of removing or causing the loss of leaves from plants or trees.
Present participle of 'defoliate,' emphasizing the ongoing or active process. Used in scientific, military, and ecological contexts to describe leaf-stripping actions.
Defoliating insects like sawfly larvae can strip an entire pine tree bare in just two weeks—they don't eat the wood, only the needles, which is why trees sometimes recover if they've stored enough reserves.
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