Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The act or process of transpiring, especially through the stomata of plant tissue or the pores of the skin.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The act or process of transpiring; especially, exhalation through the skin: as, the transpiration of obstructed fluids.
  • noun In botany, the exhalation of watery vapor from the surface of the leaves of plants.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Physiol.) The act or process of transpiring or excreting in the form of vapor; exhalation, as through the skin or other membranes of the body. Perspiration is a form of transpiration.
  • noun (bot.) The evaporation of water, or exhalation of aqueous vapor, from cells and masses of tissue.
  • noun (Physics) The passing of gases through fine tubes, porous substances, or the like.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun botany The loss of water by evaporation in terrestrial plants, especially through the stomata; accompanied by a corresponding uptake from the roots.
  • noun physiology The process of giving off water vapour through the skin or mucous membranes.
  • noun The passage of gases through fine tubes.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the process of giving off or exhaling water vapor through the skin or mucous membranes
  • noun the emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants
  • noun the passage of gases through fine tubes because of differences in pressure or temperature

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The net effect of reduced transpiration is that plants consume less water – meaning more remains in the soil and can run off into rivers.

    Increased Floods Due to Shrinking Plant Leaf Pores | Impact Lab 2007

  • This order shall be effective in any case in which the travel or transpiration is authorized or approved and commenced on or after September 23, 1950.

    EXECUTIVE ORDER 10196 1950

  • Hales conducted hundreds of experiments on plants that demonstrated the flow of sap in the roots and stalks of plants as well as leaf-based evaporation of water (a process known as transpiration).

    Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium - Recent changes [en] 2008

  • This process, called transpiration, is similar to the human cooling effect of perspiration.

    The Green Geek 2008

  • Much of the solar energy that falls on a natural forest is dissipated high in the tree canopy through "transpiration," the evaporation of water transmitted from the soil through the roots, stems, and foliage of plants, a process that consumes solar energy and cools the environment.

    The Green vs. the Brown Amazon Terborgh, John 2007

  • Abbés Nollet and Menon that animals (cats, pigeons, chaffinches) lose weight when subjected to prolonged electrification, the loss being ascribed to increased "transpiration" under electrical stimulus.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 16 [Supplement] 1840-1916 1913

  • Soil transpiration around a septic system is the movement of oxygen into the soil to aid in the process of breaking down matter and the evaporation of leachate or extra septic moisture.

    Perfect plants to place over septic systems 2010

  • But planting should not be so dense or with a species that will interfere with soil transpiration or evaporation of leachate.

    Perfect plants to place over septic systems 2010

  • Green roofs lower heating costs in cold climates by preventing heat escape from buildings and lower air conditioning costs in warm climates, keeping buildings cool via plant transpiration processes.

    Jake Rosenwasser: New York City's Biggest Rooftop Farm Jake Rosenwasser 2011

  • In fact, such plantings are helpful because they stabilize the soil surface and don't interfere with soil transpiration.

    Perfect plants to place over septic systems 2010

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