noctilucent

American  

[nok-tuh-loo-suhnt] / ˌnɒk təˈlu sənt /

adjective

Meteorology.

1. (of high-altitude clouds) visible during the short night of the summer.

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noctilucent British  

/ ˌnɒktɪˈluːsənt /

adjective

1. shining at night, usu. of very thin high altitude clouds observable in the summer twilight sky

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noctilucent Scientific  

/ nŏk′tə-lo̅o̅′sənt /

1. Luminous at night. The term is used especially to describe certain high atmospheric cloud formations visible during summer nights at high latitudes.

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Other Word Forms

• noctilucence
  noun

Etymology

Origin of noctilucent

First recorded in 1885–90; nocti- + lucent

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

noctilucent

“Folks in the northern U.S. and Canada should absolutely be on the lookout for noctilucent clouds over the long weekend,” Cora Randall, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, said in an email.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 2, 2022

Previously, researchers found water vapor released from these missions can lead to the formation of noctilucent clouds.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 2, 2022

Alan Tough spotted these rare noctilucent clouds in Elgin, Scotland.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2011

It was a close call between John Rowlands' study of noctilucent clouds, and an entry by art gallery owner Shane Record from Kent.

From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2010

Like noctilucent clouds high above the cirrus belt.

From The Scarlet Lake Mystery by Harold L. (Harold Leland) Goodwin