nocturnal

[ nok-tur-nl ]
See synonyms for: nocturnalnocturnally on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. of or relating to the night (opposed to diurnal).

  2. done, occurring, or coming at night: nocturnal visit.

  1. active at night (opposed to diurnal): nocturnal animals.

  2. opening by night and closing by day, as certain flowers (opposed to diurnal).

noun
  1. Archaic. an astrolabe for telling time at night or for determining latitude by the position of certain stars in reference to Polaris.

Origin of nocturnal

1
From the Late Latin word nocturnālis, dating back to 1475–85. See nocturn, -al1

Other words for nocturnal

Other words from nocturnal

  • noc·tur·nal·i·ty, noun
  • noc·tur·nal·ly, adverb
  • non·noc·tur·nal, adjective
  • non·noc·tur·nal·ly, adverb
  • sem·i·noc·tur·nal, adjective
  • un·noc·tur·nal, adjective
  • un·noc·tur·nal·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with nocturnal

Words Nearby nocturnal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use nocturnal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nocturnal

nocturnal

/ (nɒkˈtɜːnəl) /


adjective
  1. of, used during, occurring in, or relating to the night

  2. (of animals) active at night

  1. (of plants) having flowers that open at night and close by day

Origin of nocturnal

1
C15: from Late Latin nocturnālis, from Latin nox night

Derived forms of nocturnal

  • nocturnality, noun
  • nocturnally, adverb

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

Scientific definitions for nocturnal

nocturnal

[ nŏk-tûrnəl ]


  1. Occurring at night.

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

  1. 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 © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.