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photoactivation

American  
[foh-toh-ak-tuh-vey-shuhn] / ˌfoʊ toʊˌæk təˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

Chemistry.

  1. the activation or control of a chemical, chemical reaction, or organism by light, as the activation of chlorophyll by sunlight during photosynthesis.

Other Word Forms

  • photoactive adjective
  • photoactivity noun

Etymology

Origin of photoactivation

1920–25; photo- + activation ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For example, some accumulate the yellow pigment , which absorbs ultraviolet light, reducing photoactivation of the hogweed compounds.

From Washington Post • Jun. 10, 2013

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.