denude

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   formal: to strip land or another surface of its natural covering

   Repeated fires can denude a hillside of trees and expose the soil to erosion.

2. 2
   verb

   formal: to deprive a person, organization, or thing of a possession, resource, or quality

   The restructuring would denude the agency of its remaining authority.

Borrowed through French dénuder from Latin denudare 'make naked', formed from de- 'completely' + nudus 'naked'.

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