phototonus

[ foh-tot-n-uhs ]

/ foʊˈtɒt n əs /

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noun Biology.

the normal condition of sensitiveness to light in organisms or their organs.

the irritability exhibited by cytoplasm when exposed to light of a certain intensity.

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Origin of phototonus

First recorded in 1870–75; photo- + tonus

OTHER WORDS FROM phototonus

pho·to·ton·ic

[foh-tuh-ton-ik], /ˌfoʊ təˈtɒn ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby phototonus

phototelegraphy, phototheodolite, phototherapeutics, phototherapy, photothermic, phototonus, phototopography, phototoxic, phototoxin, phototransistor, phototroph

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for phototonus

phototonus

/ (fəʊˈtɒtənəs) /

noun

the condition of plants that enables them to respond to the stimulus of light

Derived forms of phototonus

phototonic (ˌfəʊtəʊˈtɒnɪk), adjective

Word Origin for phototonus

C19: from photo- + Greek tonos tone

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