Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [nok-tuh-loo-kuh]
- /ˌnɒk təˈlu kə/
- /nˌɒktɪlˈuːkə/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [nok-tuh-loo-kuh]
- /ˌnɒk təˈlu kə/
Definitions of noctiluca word
- noun plural noctiluca a dinoflagellate of the genus Noctiluca, capable of producing light and, in groups, of causing a luminous appearance of the sea. 1
- noun noctiluca A roughly spherical marine dinoflagellate that is strongly phosphorescent, especially when disturbed. 1
- noun noctiluca any bioluminescent marine dinoflagellate of the genus Noctiluca 0
- noun noctiluca any of a genus (Noctiluca) of large, spherical, reddish, luminescent dinoflagellates that often occur in vast numbers in the sea, causing the water to glow at night 0
Information block about the term
Origin of noctiluca
First appearance:
before 1670 One of the 47% oldest English words
1670-80; < New Latin; Latin noctilūca shiner by night, equivalent to nocti- nocti- + -lūca shiner, derivative of lūcēre to shine
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Noctiluca
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
noctiluca popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 55% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data about 56% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
noctiluca usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for noctiluca
noun noctiluca
- fire beetle — any of numerous click beetles of the genus Pyrophorus, of tropical America, having luminous reddish or greenish spots on the body.
- firefly — any nocturnal beetle of the family Lampyridae, characterized by a soft body with a light-producing organ at the rear of the abdomen.
- fireworm — the larva of any of several moths, as Rhopobota naevana (black-headed fireworm) which feeds on the leaves of cranberries and causes them to wither.
- glowworm — the wingless female or larva of the European beetle, Lampyris noctiluca, which emits a sustained greenish light.
- lampyrid — any of several beetles of the family Lampyridae, comprising the fireflies.
Top questions with noctiluca
- what kind of phytoplankton is noctiluca?
- what is noctiluca?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with n
- Words starting with no
- Words starting with noc
- Words starting with noct
- Words starting with nocti
- Words starting with noctil
- Words starting with noctilu
- Words starting with noctiluc
- Words starting with noctiluca