aphotic

[ey-foh-tik]

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adjective

lightless; dark.

Origin of aphotic

First recorded in 1900–05; a-⁶ + photic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for aphotic

dim, misty, murky, shadowy, overcast, somber, cloudy, dingy, gloomy, black, drab, foggy, dull, darkened, faint, dusk, dun, dusky, grimy, indistinct

British Dictionary definitions for aphotic

aphotic

adjective

characterized by or growing in the absence of lightan aphotic plant

of or relating to the zone of an ocean below that to which sunlight can penetrate, usually about 90m (300 ft). This is the lowest level at which photosynthesis can take place

Word Origin for aphotic

C20: from a- 1 + -photic, from Greek phōs light

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for aphotic

adj.

"untouched by sunlight, lightless" (in reference to deep-sea regions), 1903, Modern Latin, from Greek a- "not, without" (see a- (3)) + phos (genitive photos) "light," related to phainein "to show, to bring to light" (see phantasm) + -ic. Aphotic zone is recorded from 1913.

aphotic in Science

aphotic

[ā-fō′tĭk]

Having no light.

Relating to the region of a body of water that is not reached by sunlight and in which photosynthesis is unable to occur. Compare photic.