transpiration

noun

tran·​spi·​ra·​tion ˌtran(t)s-pə-ˈrā-shən 

: the act or process or an instance of transpiring

especially : the passage of watery vapor from a living body (as of a plant) through a membrane or pores

transpirational

ˌtran(t)s-pə-ˈrā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Examples of transpiration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

A number of Kane County departments would also be impacted by any cuts to federal funding, including departments in charge of health, water resources and transpiration, among others, according to Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog. —R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025

This allows a higher rate of transpiration as the water and nutrients move through the plant's vascular system. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 24 Jan. 2025

When the air is warm and dry, transpiration and evaporation also suck water out of the plants and soil. —CBS News, 10 Jan. 2025

For the purposes of the report, aridity was measured as a function of three variables: ambient rainfall, transpiration—or the rate at which water is transferred to the atmosphere via plants—and evaporation. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for transpiration

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

transpiration

noun

tran·​spi·​ra·​tion tran(t)s-pə-ˈrā-shən 

: the process by which plants give off water vapor through the stomata in their leaves

Medical Definition

transpiration

noun

tran·​spi·​ra·​tion tran(t)s-pə-ˈrā-shən 

: the passage of watery vapor from a living body through a membrane or pores

transpirational

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective