noctiluca

noc·ti·lu·ca  (nkt-lk)

n.

Any of various bioluminescent dinoflagellates of the genus Noctiluca that when grouped in large numbers make the sea phosphorescent.

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[New Latin Noctilca, genus name, from Latin noctilca, lantern, moon : nocti-, nocti- + lcre, to shine; see leuk- in Indo-European roots.]

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noctiluca [ˌnɒktɪˈluːkə]

n pl -cae [-siː]

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) any bioluminescent marine dinoflagellate of the genus Noctiluca

[from Latin, from nox night + lūcēre to shine]

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noctiluca

any thing or creature that shines or glows in the dark, especially a phosphorescent or bioluminescent marine or other organism. — noctilucine, adj.

See also: Darkness

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any thing or creature that shines or glows in the dark, especially a phosphorescent or bioluminescent marine or other organism. — noctilucine, adj.

See also: Light

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

noctiluca - large bioluminescent marine protozoan Noctiluca miliaris dinoflagellate - chiefly marine protozoa having two flagella; a chief constituent of plankton genus Noctiluca - a genus of protoctist