NOCTURNAL

nocturnal

(adjective) belonging to or active during the night; “nocturnal animals are active at night”; “nocturnal plants have flowers that open at night and close by day”

nocturnal

(adjective) of or relating to or occurring in the night; “nocturnal darkness”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

nocturnal (comparative more nocturnal, superlative most nocturnal)

(of a person, creature, group, or species) Primarily active during the night.

(of an occurrence) Taking place at night, nightly.

Antonyms

• diurnal

Coordinate terms

• crepuscular

Noun

nocturnal (plural nocturnals)

A person or creature that is active at night.

(historical) A device for telling the time at night, rather like a sundial but read according to the stars.

Synonym: star clock

Source: Wiktionary


Noc*tur"nal, a. Etym: [L. nocturnalis, nocturnus, fr. nox, noctis, night. See Night, and cf. Nocturn.]

1. Of, pertaining to, done or occuring in, the night; as, nocturnal darkness, cries, expedition, etc.; -- opposed to Ant: diurnal. Dryden.

2. Having a habit of seeking food or moving about at night; as, nocturnal birds and insects.

Noc*tur"nal, n.

Definition: An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the stars, etc., at sea. I. Watts.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

24 June 2025

CLINGFISH

(noun) very small (to 3 inches) flattened marine fish with a sucking disc on the abdomen for clinging to rocks etc.


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the largest coffee shop is the Al Masaa Café, which has 1,050 seats. The coffee shop was inaugurated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 13 August 2014.

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