Adjacent Words

Nocturnal definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

NOCTURN'AL, a. [L. night.]
1. Pertaining to night; as nocturnal darkness.
2. Done or happening at night; as a nocturnal expedition or assault; a nocturnal visit.
3. Nightly; done or being every night.
From gilded roofs depending lamps display nocturnal beams, that emulate the day.
NOCTURN'AL, n. An instrument, chiefly used at sea to take the altitude of stars about the pole, in order to ascertain the latitude. This may be a hemisphere, or a planisphere on the plane of the equinoctial.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: belonging to or active during the night; "nocturnal animals are active at night"; "nocturnal plants have flowers that open at night and close by day" [ant: diurnal]
2: of or relating to or occurring in the night; "nocturnal darkness"

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French nocturnel, from Late Latin nocturnalis, from Latin nocturnus of night, nocturnal, from noct-, nox night Date: 15th century 1. of, relating to, or occurring in the night <a nocturnal journey> 2. active at night <a nocturnal predator> • nocturnally adverb

NOAA Weather Glossary

Related to nighttime, or occurring at night.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. of or in the night; done or active by night. Phrases and idioms: nocturnal emission involuntary emission of semen during sleep. Derivatives: nocturnally adv. Etymology: LL nocturnalis f. L nocturnus of the night f. nox noctis night

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Nocturnal Noc*tur"nal, n. An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the stars, etc., at sea. --I. Watts.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Nocturnal Noc*tur"nal, a. [L. nocturnalis, nocturnus, fr. nox, noctis, night. See Night, and cf. Nocturn.] 1. Of, pertaining to, done or occuring in, the night; as, nocturnal darkness, cries, expedition, etc.; -- opposed to diurnal. --Dryden. 2. Having a habit of seeking food or moving about at night; as, nocturnal birds and insects.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. Nocturnal means occurring at night. ...long nocturnal walks. ADJ: usu ADJ n 2. Nocturnal creatures are active mainly at night. When there is a full moon, this nocturnal rodent is careful to stay in its burrow. ADJ

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. Nightly.