English Explanatory Dictionary

nocturnal

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Primarily active during the night.
  2. Taking place at night, nightly.
noun
  1. A person or creature that is active at night.
  2. A device for telling the time at night, rather like a sundial but read according to the stars.

Pronunciation

/nɒkˈtɜː(ɹ).nəl/ /nɑkˈtɝ.nəl/ en-us-nocturnal.ogg

Word forms

nocturnal more nocturnal most nocturnal nocturnall nocturnals

Etymology

From Middle French nocturnal, from Latin nocturnālis (“nocturnal”), from Latin nocturnus (“nocturnal”), from Latin nox (“night”), from Proto-Indo-European *nókʷts (“night”). Cognates include Ancient Greek νύξ (núx), Sanskrit नक्ति (nákti), Old English niht (English night) and Proto-Slavic *noťь.

Synonyms

lucifugous nightish nightly nighttime nocturnal star clock

Antonyms

diurnal nonnocturnal

Derived words

noctophobia nocturnal active photolocation nocturnal arc nocturnal arch nocturnal delirium nocturnal emission nocturnalism nocturnalist nocturnality nocturnally nocturnal penile tumescence nocturnal pollution nonnocturnal seminocturnal sudden unexplained nocturnal death syndrome
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