nyctinasty

/ ˈnɪktɪˌnæstɪ /

noun

1. botany a nastic movement, such as the closing of petals, that occurs in response to the alternation of day and night

Other Word Forms

• nyctinastic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nyctinasty¹

C20: from Greek nukt-, nux night + _-nasty

Example Sentences

ABC Buffalo reports that Fuller, who correctly spelled the words "nyctinasty" and "tapas" onstage in National Harbor, Maryland, was disqualified from the finals due to her performance on a written test.

Read more on Time

Her word was “nyctinasty,” the movement of plants in response to the onset of darkness.

Read more on Seattle Times