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nocturnality

 - 4 dictionary results

noc⋅tur⋅nal

[nok-tur-nl]
–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


noc⋅tur⋅nal⋅i⋅ty, noun
noc⋅tur⋅nal⋅ly, adverb


2. nighttime.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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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>
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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Science Dictionary
nocturnal   (nŏk-tûr'nəl)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Occurring at night.

  2. Most active at night. Many animals, such as owls and bats, are nocturnal.

  3. Having flowers that open during the night and close at daylight. Nocturnal plants are often pollinated by moths. Compare diurnal.


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