denude

IPA/dɪˈnjuːd/
KK[dɪnˈud]IPA/dɪˈnuːd/

denude — verb

  • denudepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • denudeshe / she / it
  • denudedpast simple
  • denuding-ing form

1. to take away the layer, growth, or material that hides a surface, especially on

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to take away the layer, growth, or material that hides a surface, especially on land, so the bare surface can be seen.

例句

Years of illegal logging denuded the hills above Mei's village.

denude + land through logging

The storm denuded the beach, leaving dark rocks fully exposed.

result: exposed surface after damage

同義詞
  • strip

    more general and common; it works for many surfaces, not mainly formal land contexts

  • bare

    often highlights the exposed result more than the act of removing the cover

  • deforest

    narrower; it specifically means removing forest from an area

反義詞
  • cover

    to place a layer over a surface instead of removing it

  • reforest

    to plant trees again after woodland has been removed

  • restore

    to bring back lost surface cover or vegetation

文法句型

denude + land/coast/hillside

be denuded by fire, logging, or storms

用法筆記

Usually seen in formal writing about land, coasts, or slopes after logging, fire, mining, or erosion. Sense 2 keeps the same stripping image but applies it to money, power, or personal qualities instead of a physical surface.

常見錯誤

❌She denuded the banana before eating it.
✅She peeled the banana before eating it.
💡denude is usually used for stripping a broad surface such as land or a hillside, not for everyday food preparation.

2. to leave someone or something without a valued possession, power, or quality by

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

to leave someone or something without a valued possession, power, or quality by taking it away.

例句

The fake investment denuded Rafael of his retirement savings.

denude + person + of + possession

Months in prison denuded the senator of all public influence.

formal use with status or influence

同義詞
  • deprive

    more common and neutral for taking something important away

  • strip

    less formal and often more forceful in tone

  • divest

    formal and often used for rights, power, or property in legal or official contexts

反義詞
  • endow

    to give someone or something a useful or valuable quality

  • grant

    to give power, money, or status rather than take it away

  • preserve

    to keep a quality, role, or resource from being lost

文法句型

denude + person/group + of + possession

denude + institution/role + of + power or meaning

用法筆記

This sense is strongly formal and usually names what was lost with an of-phrase. It often appears in writing about money, power, dignity, influence, or other things that people or institutions are left without.

常見錯誤

❌The scandal denuded the mayor from his good name.
✅The scandal denuded the mayor of his good name.
💡this sense normally takes 'of' to show what was taken away, not 'from'.