depopulate /dɪˈpɒpjʊˌleɪt/ TEM8 ( depopulating, depopulated, depopulates )

• 1. 

  V-T To depopulate an area means to greatly reduce the number of people living there. 使(某地)人口减少

  例：

  The famine threatened to depopulate the continent.

  饥荒威胁着该大陆人口数量。

• 2. 

  depopulated ADJ

  例：

  ...a small, rural, and depopulated part of the south-west.

  ...西南部一个人烟稀少的乡下小地方。