Adjacent Words

bioluminescence definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: luminescence produced by physiological processes (as in the firefly)

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1916 the emission of light from living organisms; also the light so produced • bioluminescent adjective

Britannica Concise

Emission of light by an organism or biochemical system (e.g., the glow of bacteria on decaying meat or fish, the phosphorescence of protozoans in tropical seas, the flickering signals of fireflies). It occurs in a wide range of protists and animals, incl. bacteria and fungi, insects, marine invertebrates, and fish. It is not known to exist naturally in true plants or in amphibians, reptiles, birds, or mammals. It results from a chemical reaction that produces radiant energy very efficiently, giving off very little heat. The essential light-emitting components are usually the organic molecule luciferin and the enzyme luciferase, which are specific for different organisms. In higher organisms, light production is used to frighten predators and to help members of a species recognize each other. Its functional role in lower organisms such as bacteria, dinoflagellates, and fungi is uncertain. Luminous species are widely scattered taxonomically, with no clear-cut pattern, though most are marine.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. the emission of light by living organisms such as the firefly and glow-worm. Derivatives: bioluminescent adj.