bioluminescence

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

Updated on: 12 May 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

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bioluminescent

play \-sᵊnt\ adjective

Recent Examples of bioluminescence from the Web

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
Krieger suspected that the miraculous sight might be caused by bioluminescence, a chemical reaction that allows living creatures to produce light.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "The Story Behind Big Sur’s Glowing Waves," 27 Feb. 2018
Research into stinging cells, toxicology, bioluminescence, propulsion systems, and other aspects of jellyfish physiology and behavior has practical applications in medicine and technology.

— nancy lord, Anchorage Daily News, "Fascinating jellyfish science told as a personal journey," 24 Feb. 2018
That weekend will also mark the one-year anniversary of the opening of Pandora, which includes the popular Flight of Passage ride, the Na’vi River Journey, Satu’li Canteen, floating mountains and plenty of bioluminescence.

— dewayne bevil, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Disney unleashes details about Animal Kingdom's 20th anniversary," 22 Feb. 2018
Marine bioluminescence is found in a range of sea creatures, from microscopic organisms to sharks.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The U.S. and Soviet Union Once Investigated Bioluminescence as a Way to Track Submarines," 23 Jan. 2018
Marine bioluminescence could be very problematic for a submarine trying to hide in the ocean.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The U.S. and Soviet Union Once Investigated Bioluminescence as a Way to Track Submarines," 23 Jan. 2018
Some, like fireflies, create their own illumination through an ingenious chemical process known as bioluminescence.

— nola taylor redd, Smithsonian, "Could We See Glow-in-the-Dark Aliens From Earth?," 1 Aug. 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

in the meaning defined above

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Medical Dictionary