phototaxis

American  

[foh-tuh-tak-sis] / ˌfoʊ təˈtæk sɪs /

Or phototaxy

noun

Biology.

1. movement of an organism toward or away from a source of light.

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phototaxis British  

/ ˌfəʊtəʊˈtæksɪs, ˌfəʊtəʊˈtæktɪk /

noun

1. the movement of an entire organism in response to light

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Other Word Forms

• phototactic adjective
• phototactically adverb

Etymology

Origin of phototaxis

First recorded in 1900–05; photo- + -taxis

Example Sentences

When the dark and gray recede, it sometimes seems as if the city has turned into a giant experiment in positive phototaxis, every organism drawn inexorably toward the light.

From New York Times

Phototaxis drew flies out of the elevator.

From Nature