existing leaves

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "existing leaves" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to leaves that are currently present or available, often in a context related to plants, documents, or permissions. Example: "The gardener noted that the existing leaves on the plant were healthy and vibrant."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The Project has collected the existing leaves (sheets) of Darwin's near-final copy of the first edition Origin; and, those of Darwin's manuscripts especially important to understanding his line of thought leading up to the 1859 Origin are collected on the site in the form of a scholarly edition.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The mean leaf length within cultures remained unchanged, due to the appearance of new young leaves counteracting the increasing length of existing leaves.

AoB PLANTS

Once L14 primordia were visible (<2 mm), existing leaves (greater than 5 mm; designated mature) were shaded to 50 μmol m−2 s−1 using neutral density filters (Lee Filters), with L14 exposed to 250 μmol m−2 s−1.

Current Biology

Put the additional leaves on the existing leaves.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Since April 2011, fathers and mothers have been able to share some of the 52 weeks' existing leave, with the father able to take up to six months beginning after the baby is 20 weeks old.

BBC

And, how do we do this before the existing workforce leaves?

The Guardian

As a consequence they may demand high returns for rolling over existing debt.That leaves the banks.

The Economist

In a message scribbled on the back of the photo, he forgives his brother, thanks the youngsters for existing, and leaves Delia with the jazz credo — and Marty's motto — "Never settle".

The New Yorker

It's good news for SocialGO because frankly their existing platform leaves a lot to be desired.

TechCrunch

Existing research leaves two things unclear, however: the prevalence of online health and medical information seeking and the distinguishing characteristics of individuals who seek that information.

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association

Although the analysis of tissue-specific PHYB YFP lines reveals the spatial requirement for phyB during stomatal development, it does not distinguish between a local requirement within a developing leaf and a systemic role in existing mature leaves.

Current Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing plant growth or changes, specify "existing leaves" to distinguish them from new or emerging leaves. This clarifies the context, especially in scientific or botanical writing.

Common error

Don't assume that "current leaves" is always interchangeable with "existing leaves". "Current leaves" might refer to leaves that are newly formed, while "existing leaves" specifically refers to those already present. Choose the term that best reflects the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "existing leaves" primarily functions as a noun phrase modified by an adjective. The adjective "existing" specifies which leaves are being referred to. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

Wiki

25%

News & Media

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "existing leaves" refers to leaves that are already present and established. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and usable in various contexts, mainly science, wiki and news. Although not frequently used, it serves to clearly distinguish between new and old foliage. When writing, ensure that the term accurately reflects your intended meaning, especially in botanical or scientific contexts. Alternatives like "current foliage" or "present leaves" can provide similar clarity depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

current foliage

Replaces "leaves" with a synonym that emphasizes the plant's greenery at the present time.

present leaves

Focuses on the leaves that are currently on the plant or in a collection.

remaining leaves

Implies that some leaves have been removed or lost, and these are what's left.

extant leaves

A more formal and less common way of saying "existing leaves", emphasizing their survival.

established leaves

Emphasizes that the leaves are fully grown and mature.

previous leaves

Emphasizes leaves from the prior season or period.

old leaves

A simpler term emphasizing the age of the leaves

original leaves

Emphasizes that leaves were there from the start

live leaves

Contrasts the live leaves with any dead ones present.

available leaves

Focuses on leaves that are accessible or usable for a specific purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "existing leaves" in a sentence?

You can use "existing leaves" to refer to leaves that are already present, such as, "The gardener carefully pruned the "existing leaves" on the rose bush to encourage new growth."

What is a good alternative to "existing leaves"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "current foliage" or "present leaves" to convey a similar meaning.

When should I use "existing leaves" instead of "new leaves"?

"Existing leaves" should be used when you want to specifically refer to the leaves that are already present on a plant or have been there for some time, as opposed to "new leaves" that are just emerging.

Is there a difference between "pre-existing leaves" and "existing leaves"?

"Pre-existing leaves" emphasizes that the leaves were there before a certain event or condition. In many cases, "existing leaves" can be used interchangeably, but "pre-existing" adds a sense of prior existence relative to something else.