e·ti·o·late ( ēt ē- ə-l āt ′)
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v. e·ti·o·lat·ed, e·ti·o·lat·ing, e·ti·o·lates v.tr.1. Botany To cause (a plant) to develop without chlorophyll by preventing exposure to sunlight. 2. a. To cause to appear pale and sickly: a face that was etiolated from years in prison. b. To make weak by stunting the growth or development of. v.intr. Botany To become blanched or whitened, as when grown without sunlight.
[French étioler, from Norman French étieuler, to grow into haulm, from éteule, stalk, from Old French esteule, from Vulgar Latin *stupula, from Latin stipula.]
e′ti·o·lation n. (click for a larger image) etiolategreen and white asparagus spears; white asparagus spears are the result of etiolation |