deplete

views updated May 18 2018

de·plete / diˈplēt/ • v. [often as adj.] (depleted) use up the supply of; exhaust the abundance of: fish stocks are severely depleted. ∎  [intr.] diminish in number or quantity: supplies are depleting fast. ∎  exhaust: avoid getting depleted and depressed.DERIVATIVES: de·ple·tion / -ˈplēshən/ n.

deplete

views updated May 29 2018

deplete empty (orig. as by blood-letting). XIX. f. dēplēt-, pp. stem of L. dēplēre, f. DE- 6 + -plēre FILL.
So depletion XVII. — late L. dēplētiō, -ōn-, repl. late L. dēplētūra blood-letting.

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