photosynthesis

noun

pho·to·syn·the·sis | \ˌfō-tō-ˈsin(t)-thə-səs

Definition of photosynthesis

: synthesis of chemical compounds with the aid of radiant energy and especially light especially : formation of carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and a source of hydrogen (such as water) in the chlorophyll-containing cells (as of green plants) exposed to light

Other Words from photosynthesis Photosynthesis Has Greek Roots Example Sentences Learn More about photosynthesis

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from photosynthesis

photosynthesize \ˌfō-tō-ˈsin(t)-thə-ˌsīz

\ intransitive verb

photosynthetic \ˌfō-tō-sin-ˈthe-tik

\ adjective

photosynthetically \ˌfō-tō-sin-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē

\ adverb

Photosynthesis Has Greek Roots

The Greek roots of photosynthesis combine to produce the basic meaning "to put together with the help of light". Photosynthesis is what first produced oxygen in the atmosphere billions of years ago, and it's still what keeps it there. Sunlight splits the water molecules (made of hydrogen and oxygen) held in a plant's leaves and releases the oxygen in them into the air. The leftover hydrogen combines with carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates, which the plant uses as food—as do any animals or humans who might eat the plant.

Examples of photosynthesis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Here on Earth, 21 percent of our atmosphere is made up of oxygen — thanks to the abundance of plants and other organisms that create oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis. — Deborah Netburn, The Seattle Times, "Mars could have enough molecular oxygen to support life," 26 Oct. 2018 Properly managed woodlands help avoid emissions by not burning the trees and also draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. — Fred Krupp, WSJ, "Harness the Market to Manage the Climate," 15 Oct. 2018 When days begin to grow shorter, deciduous (green leafy) trees start signaling their leaves to stop producing chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for the leaves’ color and photosynthesis. — Brian Resnick, Vox, "When and where fall foliage colors will peak, in one map," 13 Oct. 2018 In high tide, when less light reaches the alga, the crystals may capture some of the sunlight and pass it on to the surrounding chloroplasts for photosynthesis. — Kai Kupferschmidt, Science | AAAS, "Scientists uncover the secret behind shimmering seaweed," 13 Apr. 2018 Some use chlorophyll to convert sunlight during photosynthesis and others use rhodopsins, proteins that bind to a form of vitamin A called retina to capture light. — Shandria Sutton, Science | AAAS, "New ‘light-eating’ protein discovered in the Sea of Galilee," 5 July 2018 In Chlamydomonas, an ancient stress response pathway blocks reproduction at night, when photosynthesis shuts down and resources are scarcer. — Elizabeth Pennisi, Science | AAAS, "The momentous transition to multicellular life may not have been so hard after all," 28 June 2018 That photosynthesis is one of the ways the ocean eliminates carbon dioxide on the planet. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "NASA Is Stepping Into the Twilight Zone," 19 June 2018 Many bacteria are already capable of turning sunlight into energy using photosynthesis. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Clouds Are No Problem for New Bacteria-Powered Solar Panels," 6 July 2018

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about photosynthesis

Dictionary Entries near photosynthesis

Statistics for photosynthesis

Last Updated

24 Nov 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for photosynthesis

The first known use of photosynthesis was in 1898

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for photosynthesis

photosynthesis

noun

English Language Learners Definition of photosynthesis

biology : the process by which a green plant turns water and carbon dioxide into food when the plant is exposed to light

See the full definition for photosynthesis in the English Language Learners Dictionary

photosynthesis

noun

pho·to·syn·the·sis | \ˌfō-tə-ˈsin-thə-səs

Kids Definition of photosynthesis

: the process by which green plants and a few other organisms (as some protists) form carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of light

photosynthesis

noun

pho·to·syn·the·sis | \ˌfōt-ō-ˈsin(t)-thə-səs

plural photosyntheses

Medical Definition of photosynthesis

: synthesis of chemical compounds with the aid of light sometimes including the near infrared or near ultraviolet especially : the formation of carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and a source of hydrogen (as water) in chlorophyll-containing cells (as of green plants) exposed to light involving a photochemical release of oxygen through the decomposition of water followed by various enzymatic synthetic reactions that usually do not require the presence of light