depletion








verb (used with object), de·plet·ed, de·plet·ing.

  1. to decrease seriously or exhaust the abundance or supply of: The fire had depleted the game in the forest. Extravagant spending soon depleted his funds.

verb (tr)

  1. to use up (supplies, money, energy, etc); reduce or exhaust
  2. to empty entirely or partially
  3. med to empty or reduce the fluid contents of (an organ or vessel)
n.

1650s, from Late Latin depletionem (nominative depletio) “blood-letting,” noun of action from past participle stem of Latin deplere “to empty,” literally “to un-fill,” from de- “off, away” (see de-) + plere “to fill” (see pleio-).

v.

1807, back-formation from depletion. Related: Depleted; depleting.

n.

  1. The act or process of depleting.
  2. The state of being depleted; exhaustion.
  3. Removal of or reduction in a body substance, such as blood, a fluid, or a nutrient.

v.

  1. To use up something, such as a nutrient.
  2. To empty something out, as the body of electrolytes.
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