photosynthesis
noun
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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
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Other Words from photosynthesis
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intransitive verb
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adjective
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adverb
Examples of photosynthesis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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 What about technologies like, say, artificial photosynthesis? — New York Times, "SoftBank Wants to Build the Future. Here Are Some New Bets It Could Make.," 14 June 2018 That’s in contrast to most other plants, which derive energy from the sun using photosynthesis. — Sean Greene, latimes.com, "A rare great ape, a 130-foot-tall tree and an extinct marsupial lion make the Top 10 New Species list for 2018," 23 May 2018 But exceptionally high temperatures are known to greatly reduce photosynthesis—and most existing plant models suggest this should also decrease transpiration, leaving trees in danger of fatally overheating. — Yasemin Saplakoglu, Scientific American, "Trees Sweat to Keep Cool," 12 Apr. 2018 Meanwhile, the moss inhales carbon dioxide and releases oxygen via photosynthesis—in effect cleaning the air. — Bengt Halvorson, Car and Driver, "Goodyear’s New Concept Tire Has Living Moss Inside—Really," 7 Mar. 2018These 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.
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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
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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
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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
Other Words from photosynthesis
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also British
photosynthesise
intransitive verb
photosynthesized
also British photosynthesised;
photosynthesizing
also British photosynthesising
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adjective
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adverb
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