denudation
denudation — verb
- denudationpresent simple I / you / we / they
- denudations3rd person singular
- denudationing-ing form
- denudationedpast simple
1. to take away a quality, right, or resource that someone or something needs in or
to take away a quality, right, or resource that someone or something needs in order to function well or be valuable
The new policy denuded the local council of its power to make planning decisions.
denude + object + of + abstract noun
Years of budget cuts had denuded the hospital of its most experienced nurses.
A culture denuded of its traditions becomes rootless and hard to pass on to children.
The proposed law would denude citizens of the right to challenge unfair fines in court.
文法句型
denude + object + of + something
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive form 'be denuded of' when describing institutions or communities that have lost essential resources or authority. The object of 'of' is typically an abstract noun such as rights, power, meaning, or resources.
常見錯誤
2. to remove all outer layers or surface material from something so that the inner
to remove all outer layers or surface material from something so that the inner part is completely exposed
The disease denuded the branches of their leaves, leaving only a bare skeleton of twigs.
denude + of + natural covering
Strong chemical cleaners had denuded the old table of its varnish and original colour.
After the fire, the hillside stood completely denuded of grass and undergrowth.
The sculptor denuded the stone of its rough outer crust to show the shape inside.
文法句型
denude + object + of + covering
用法筆記
This sense is literal and physical. The surface layer removed is typically a natural covering (bark, skin, leaves, topsoil) or a manufactured one (paint, varnish, plaster).
常見錯誤
3. to wear away the surface of rock, soil, or land through the action of natural fo
to wear away the surface of rock, soil, or land through the action of natural forces such as wind, water, or ice, exposing the material beneath
Centuries of wind and rain had denuded the granite cliffs, leaving smooth grey faces.
natural forces + denude + geological feature
The river slowly denuded the riverbank, carrying away tonnes of soil each spring.
Glaciers denuded the valley floor during the ice age, scraping it to bare bedrock.
Without roots to hold it, the topsoil was denuded by heavy rainfall on the slope.
The ancient path had been denuded of loose material by centuries of foot traffic.
文法句型
denude + object + by/through + natural force
用法筆記
Common in geology and environmental science writing. The passive form ('is denuded by') is typical when describing long-term natural processes rather than a single event.
常見錯誤
4. to cut down or remove all the trees from an area of land, leaving the ground bar
to cut down or remove all the trees from an area of land, leaving the ground bare and exposed
Logging companies had denuded huge areas of the rainforest, leaving nothing but dry scrub.
denude + area + of + vegetation type
The mountainside was completely denuded of trees after the mining company cleared it for quarrying.
passive: denuded of trees
Centuries of shipbuilding denuded the coastal hills of their ancient oak forests.
Satellite images showed the region denuded of forest cover at an alarming rate.
文法句型
denude + land/area + of + trees/forest
用法筆記
Used in environmental and conservation contexts. 'Deforest' is the more common everyday verb; 'denude' emphasises the completeness of the removal and the resulting bareness.