bioluminescence

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noun bio·lu·mi·nes·cence \ ˌbī-ō-ˌlü-mə-ˈne-sᵊn(t)s \

Definition of bioluminescence

:the emission of light from living organisms (such as fireflies, dinoflagellates, and bacteria) as the result of internal, typically oxidative chemical reactions; also :the light so produced

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bioluminescent

play \-sᵊnt\ adjective

Recent Examples of bioluminescence from the Web

Their finds included anglerfish, a famous example of bioluminescence.

— author: william j. broad, Alaska Dispatch News, "The deep seas are alive with light," 23 Aug. 2017
As Gibbons reports, a recent study suggests that up to 75 percent of ocean creatures have some degree of bioluminescence.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "This Tiny, Bulbous-Nosed Shark Glows in the Dark," 1 Aug. 2017
Voyage to the bottom of the sea and discover the world of bioluminescence — the secret light of the sea — at SeaWorld San Diego’s new nighttime show, Electric Ocean.

— carolina gusman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "SeaWorld’s Electric Ocean shines light on underwater world," 28 June 2017
Researchers tested 200 species in the lab, finding that at least half of them showed some sort of bioluminescence, Wahlquist reports.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Australian Expedition Dredges Up Crazy Creatures From the Deep Sea," 20 June 2017
Some even create their own light through bioluminescence.

— National Geographic, "‘Faceless’ Fish Seen for First Time in Over a Century," 2 June 2017
Bioluminescence is only visible on dark nights when the water is sufficiently warm, so tours do not operate in the week around a full moon and are only offered in summer months.

— bonnie gross, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Leave the camera behind on bioluminescent kayak trips by night," 31 May 2017
But be sure to return after dark, when the bioluminescence seems to make the plants come to life.

— marjie lambert, miamiherald, "World of ‘Avatar’ comes to life at Disney World and it doesn’t look like any garden you’ve seen," 30 May 2017
The Pandoran botany is much more impressive after dusk, when its glittering bioluminescence is lit up like a naturally-occurring Vegas.

— sara stewart, CNN, "First look inside Disney's new 'Avatar -- World of Pandora'," 26 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bioluminescence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of bioluminescence

International Scientific Vocabulary

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1916

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary