etiolate
/ˈiː.ti.ə.leɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To make or become pale, weak, or thin because of too little light, food, or care. It is often used for plants, but it can also describe people or ideas that lose strength.
- The seedlings etiolate in the dark.
- Poor support can etiolate a student’s confidence.
- The long winter etiolated the garden plants.
Adinary Nuance
Etiolate is more specific than weaken or damage. It suggests something becoming pale, thin, or less healthy, often because it lacks light or good conditions. Writers choose it when they want a precise, slightly formal word, especially for plants or abstract things like hope or culture.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- làm úa vàng
- Spanish
- etiolar
- Chinese
- 黄化
- Japanese
- 黄化させる
- Korean
- 황화시키다
Etymology
Etiolate comes from French étioler, meaning to make a plant grow weak and pale. It entered English in the 18th century, first in gardening and later in wider use.
Common phrases
etiolated plantsetiolated growthetiolate a culture
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is etiolate a common word in everyday English?
- No. It is fairly formal and more common in writing than in speech.
- Can etiolate be used for people?
- Yes, but usually in a literary or formal way. It suggests becoming weak, pale, or unhealthy.
- What is the difference between etiolate and weaken?
- Weaken is general. Etiolate is more specific and often suggests paleness, thinness, or poor growth.
- Is etiolate used in science or academic writing?
- Yes. It appears in biology, gardening, and formal academic writing.