bioluminescence

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

|Updated on: 6 Jul 2018

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

—

bioluminescent

play \-sᵊnt\ adjective

Recent Examples of bioluminescence from the Web

Biofluorescence is not to be confused with bioluminescence, in which animals produce their own light via a chemical reaction.

— National Geographic, "See Amazing Ocean Creatures That ‘Glow’," 11 June 2018
The United States and the Soviet Union both investigated the phenomenon known as bioluminescence to gauge if it could be used to detect submarines underwater.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The U.S. and Soviet Union Once Investigated Bioluminescence as a Way to Track Submarines," 23 Jan. 2018
Once the target is identified, the bacteria metabolize it in a process that generates light through bioluminescence.

— karen kaplan, latimes.com, "This futuristic pill senses signs of disease inside the body, then sends a wireless alert to a phone," 25 May 2018
People have been flocking to San Diego County beaches this week to watch breaking waves glow in the dark, a phenomenon called bioluminescence.

— gary robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "You've got to see this new video of the surf glowing off La Jolla due to bioluminesence," 11 May 2018
The red tides are unpredictable and not all produce a bioluminescence.

— CBS News, "Bioluminescence from red tide: Algae bloom literally lighting up San Diego waves at night," 9 May 2018
But at night, according to the Scripps Institute, the organisms create bioluminescence in waves that break on the shore.

— jamie ducharme, Time, "A Rare Phenomenon Made the Ocean in California Glow Blue This Week," 12 May 2018
That's different from bioluminescence, in which animals either produce their own light through a series of chemical reactions, or host other organisms that give off light.

— jamie dunning, National Geographic, "Puffin Beaks Glow in Surprising Discovery," 27 Apr. 2018
The evening honored Edith Widder, an expert on bioluminescence who joined billionaire hedge-fund founder Ray Dalio on a dive to the bottom of the ocean.

— bloomberg, latimes.com, "Bezos is putting $1 billion a year into rocket-maker Blue Origin by selling Amazon stock," 12 Mar. 2018

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.