Deciduo

Deciduo is an adjective used in several Romance languages to describe parts or structures that shed or fall away, often seasonally. The term derives from Latin deciduus meaning “falling off,” from de- meaning off and caedere meaning to cut. In Italian and Portuguese, deciduo describes things that shed leaves or other tissue, and in Spanish it appears in some technical terms as well.

In botany, deciduous describes plants that shed their leaves annually, typically in autumn, in contrast to evergreen species. This shedding can help conserve water or cope with adverse seasonal conditions. Many temperate-zone trees and shrubs are deciduous, and horticulture often distinguishes between deciduous and evergreen varieties for landscape design and cultivation.

In dentistry, deciduous teeth refer to the first set of teeth in children, commonly called primary or milk teeth. They eventually fall out as permanent teeth erupt and take their place. The term is used in Italian as dientes decidui and is found in other Romance-language terminology as well.

In other medical contexts, related forms appear in anatomical terminology, such as decidua, the maternal uterine lining during pregnancy. Although etymologically related, decidua and deciduo are used in different linguistic contexts and refer to distinct biological concepts.

See also: deciduous, caducifolio, dientes decidui, decidua.