deforestation
UK[ˌdiːˌfɒrɪˈsteɪʃən]US[ˌdiːˌfɔːrɪˈsteɪʃən]
n
the act of cutting down or burning all the trees in an area
Morpheme Breakdown
de
forest
ation
de
remove
forest
large wooded area
ation
action or process
Etymology
the word deforestation is a modern english formation built from classical components. the prefix 'de-', from latin, signifies removal or reversal. it is attached to 'forest', a word of latin origin via old french, which originally referred to a royal hunting preserve but broadened to mean any large tract of woodland. the suffix '-ation', also from latin, nominalizes the verb, turning the action into a process or result. thus, the term literally and logically means "the process of removing forests," a meaning that remains transparent and precise in its contemporary environmental context.
Analysis
Structure: de (remove) + forest (large wooded area) + ation (action or process)
de: from latin, a prefix meaning "remove, reverse, or undo".
forest: from latin 'forestis', meaning "outside, woods", via old french. in this compound, it functions as the core noun.
ation: from latin '-atio', a suffix forming nouns that denote an action or process.
Examples
the rapid deforestation of the amazon basin is a major ecological concern.
the government introduced new policies to combat illegal deforestation.
deforestation often leads to soil erosion and loss of biodiversity.