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definitions

aphotic

[ ey-foh-tik ]
/ eɪˈfoʊ tɪk /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR aphotic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

lightless; dark.

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

  1. aphonic,
  2. aphorism,
  3. aphorist,
  4. aphoristic,
  5. aphorize,
  6. aphra,
  7. aphrasia,
  8. aphrodisia,
  9. aphrodisiac,
  10. aphrodite

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

British Dictionary definitions for aphotic

aphotic

/ (əˈfɒtɪk) /

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

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Science definitions for aphotic

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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.