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diurnal

 - 6 dictionary results

di⋅ur⋅nal

  [dahy-ur-nl]
Use diurnal in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to a day or each day; daily.
2. of or belonging to the daytime (opposed to nocturnal ).
3. Botany. showing a periodic alteration of condition with day and night, as certain flowers that open by day and close by night.
4. active by day, as certain birds and insects (opposed to nocturnal ).
–noun
5. Liturgy. a service book containing offices for the daily hours of prayer.
6. Archaic. a diary.
7. Archaic. a newspaper, esp. a daily one.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L diurnālis, equiv. to diurn(us) daily + -ālis -al 1

Related forms:
di⋅ur⋅nal⋅ly, adverb
di⋅ur⋅nal⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To diurnal
di·ur·nal   (dī-ûr'nəl)   
adj.  

  1. Relating to or occurring in a 24-hour period; daily.

  2. Occurring or active during the daytime rather than at night: diurnal animals.

  3. Botany Opening during daylight hours and closing at night.

n.  

  1. A book containing all the offices for the daily canonical hours of prayer except matins.

  2. Archaic

    1. A diary or journal.

    2. A daily newspaper.


[Middle English, from Late Latin diurnālis, from Latin diurnus, from diēs, day; see dyeu- in Indo-European roots.]
di·ur'nal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

diurnal 
c.1390, from L.L. diurnalis, from diurnum "day," from L. diurnus "daily," from dies "day" + -urnus, an adj. suffix denoting time (cf. hibernus "wintery"). Dies "day" is from PIE base *dyeu- (cf. Skt. diva "by day," Welsh diw, Bret. deiz "day;" Arm. tiw; Lith. diena; O.C.S. dini, Pol. dzien, Rus. den), lit. "to shine" (cf. Gk. delos "clear;" L. deus, Skt. deva "god," lit. "shining one;" Avestan dava- "spirit, demon;" Lith. devas, O.N. tivar "gods;" O.E. Tig, gen. Tiwes, see Tuesday).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: di·ur·nal
Pronunciation: dI-'&rn-&l
Function: adjective
1 : having a daily cycle <diurnalrhythms>
2 a : of, relating to, or occurring in the daytime <diurnal activity> b : chiefly active during the daytime <diurnalmosquitoes> —di·ur·nal·ly /-&l-E/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

diurnal di·ur·nal (dī-ûr'nəl)
adj.

  1. Having a 24-hour period or cycle; daily.

  2. Occurring or active during the daytime rather than at night.

di·ur'nal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
diurnal   (dī-ûr'nəl)  Pronunciation Key 

    1. Occurring once in a 24-hour period; daily.

    2. Having a 24-hour cycle. The movement of stars and other celestial objects across the sky are diurnal.

  2. Most active during the daytime. Many animals, including the apes, are diurnal.

  3. Having leaves or flowers that open in daylight and close at night. The morning glory and crocus are diurnal. Compare nocturnal.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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