Definition of etiolated

The word "etiolated" comes from the Latin word "etiōlāre" which means "to turn into" or "to make grey". In botany, the term "etiolation" refers to the process when a plant that is usually green in color becomes white, yellow, or pale green due to lack of exposure to light. It is often observed in plants that are grown in a dark environment or covered with a leafy structure such as a terrarium. During etiolation, the plant starts to produce longer and thinner stems, as well as larger leaves, in order to reach out and search for the missing light. This adaptation is a result of the plant's internal biological mechanisms that produce the pigment chlorophyll, which is essential for photosynthesis. When a plant is deprived of light, it reduces the production of chlorophyll in order to conserve energy, resulting in the development of etiolation. In summary, "etiolated" describes the condition of a plant that has suffered from insufficient light exposure. This term has its roots in Latin, but its meaning in modern botany is related to a plant's response to light deprivation.