heliotropism

American  

[hee-lee-o-truh-piz-uhm, hee-lee-uh-troh-piz-uhm] / ˌhi liˈɒ trəˌpɪz əm, ˌhi li əˈtroʊ pɪz əm /

noun

1. heliotropic tendency or growth.

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heliotropism British  

/ ˌhiːlɪəʊˈtrɒpɪk, ˌhiːlɪˈɒtrəˌpɪzəm /

noun

1. the growth of plants or plant parts (esp flowers) in response to the stimulus of sunlight, so that they turn to face the sun

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heliotropism Scientific  

/ hē′lē-ŏt′rə-pĭz′əm /

1. The growth or movement of a fixed organism, especially a plant, toward or away from sunlight. Heliotropism can be easily seen in sunflowers, which slowly turn their large flowers so that they continually face the sun.

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Other Word Forms

• heliotropic adjective
• heliotropically adverb

Etymology

Origin of heliotropism

First recorded in 1850–55; helio- + -tropism

Example Sentences

The researchers have not yet identified the genes involved in heliotropism.

From Science Daily

It’s heliotropism, and sunflowers are not the only plants that track the sun.

From New York Times

But light sensitivity—or heliotropism—plays a role too.

From Time

This response has commonly been called heliotropism and it has been carefully studied by botanists all over the habitable world.

From Project Gutenberg

Since plants possess no nerves, this identity of animal with plant heliotropism can offer but one inference—these heliotropic effects must depend upon conditions which are common to both animals and plants.

From Project Gutenberg