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nocturnal

 - 5 dictionary results

noc⋅tur⋅nal

  [nok-tur-nl]
Use nocturnal in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to the night (opposed to diurnal ).
2. done, occurring, or coming at night: nocturnal visit.
3. active at night (opposed to diurnal ): nocturnal animals.
4. opening by night and closing by day, as certain flowers (opposed to diurnal ).
–noun
5. Archaic. an astrolabe for telling time at night or for determining latitude by the position of certain stars in reference to Polaris.
Origin:
1475–85; < LL nocturnālis. See nocturn, -al 1

Related forms:
noc⋅tur⋅nal⋅i⋅ty, noun
noc⋅tur⋅nal⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
2. nighttime.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To nocturnal
noc·tur·nal   (nŏk-tûr'nəl)   
adj.  

  1. Of, relating to, or occurring in the night: nocturnal stillness.

  2. Botany Having flowers that open during the night.

  3. Zoology Most active at night: nocturnal animals.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin nocturnālis, from Latin nocturnus, from nox, noct-, night; see nekw-t- in Indo-European roots.]
noc·tur'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

nocturnal 
1485, from M.Fr. nocturnal, from L.L. nocturnalis, from L. nocturnus "belonging to the night," from nox (gen. noctis) "night," cognate with O.E. neaht (see night) + -urnus, suffix forming adjectives of time. Nocturnal emission "involuntary ejaculation during sleep" first recorded 1821.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: noc·tur·nal
Pronunciation: näk-'t&rn-&l
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or occurring atnight <nocturnal myoclonus>
2 : characterized by nocturnal activity nocturnal form of filariasis>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

nocturnal noc·tur·nal (nŏk-tûr'nəl)
adj.

  1. Of, relating to, or occurring in the night.

  2. Most active at night.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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