1. the act or process of stripping bare; removal of covering or protective layer
Usage: formal; often used in geological or environmental contexts
2. in geology, the wearing away of rock and soil by erosion, weathering, or glacial action
Usage: technical; geological term

Examples

• The denudement of the hillside by heavy rains exposed the underlying bedrock.
• Deforestation has led to the denudement of vast forest areas.
• Glacial denudement shaped the landscape during the ice age.
• The denudement of protective vegetation increased soil erosion.
• Scientists study denudement rates to understand landscape evolution.
• Coastal denudement from storms threatens residential areas.