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nocturnal
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noc·tur·nal

adjective \näk-ˈtər-nəl\

Definition of NOCTURNAL

1
: of, relating to, or occurring in the night <a nocturnal journey>
2
: active at night <a nocturnal predator>
— noc·tur·nal·ly \-nəl-ē\ adverb
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Examples of NOCTURNAL

  1. <he bought a new telescope so he could pursue his favorite nocturnal hobby of astronomy>

Origin of NOCTURNAL

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
First Known Use: 15th century

Related to NOCTURNAL

Synonyms
night, nightly, nighttime
Antonyms
daily, diurnal

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

Rhymes with NOCTURNAL

diurnal, eternal, external, fraternal, hibernal, infernal, internal, maternal, paternal, supernal

noc·tur·nal

adjective \näk-ˈtərn-əl\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of NOCTURNAL

1
: of, relating to, or occurring at night <nocturnal myoclonus>
2
: characterized by nocturnal activity <a nocturnal form of filariasis>

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