Lexic.us

Definition of Nocturnal

1. Adjective. Belonging to or active during the night. "Nocturnal plants have flowers that open at night and close by day"

2. Adjective. Of or relating to or occurring in the night. "Nocturnal darkness"

Definition of Nocturnal

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

2. n. An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the stars, etc., at sea.

Definition of Nocturnal

1. Adjective. (context: of a person, creature, group, or species) Primarily active during the night. ¹

2. Adjective. (context: of an occurrence) Taking place at night. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Nocturnal

1. [adj]

Medical Definition of Nocturnal

1. Pertaining to, occurring at or active at night. Origin: L. Nocturnus This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Nocturnal

noctivagations noctivagous noctograph noctographs noctuaries noctuary noctuas noctuid noctuid moth noctuids

noctule noctules noctuoid nocturia nocturn nocturnal (current term) nocturnal amblyopia nocturnal deliria nocturnal delirium nocturnal diarrhoea

nocturnal dyspnea nocturnal emissions nocturnal enuresis nocturnal epilepsy nocturnal myoclonus nocturnal penile tumescence nocturnal periodicity nocturnal vertigo nocturnalist

Literary usage of Nocturnal

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Retrospect of Practical Medicine and Surgery: Being a Half-yearly edited by William Braithwaite, James Braithwaite, Edmond Fauriel Trevelyan (1871)
"Being satisfied with the efficacy of this drug in nocturnal enuresis. ... In many cases, both of nocturnal incontinence of urine and of semen, ..."

2. The American Journal of Psychology by Granville Stanley Hall, Edward Bradford Titchener (1904)
"nocturnal EMISSIONS. Knowing how much harm is often done to young men by the inju- ... One great source of anxiety is nocturnal seminal emissions and the ..."

3. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1908)
"RAPIDLY recurring nocturnal petit mal is a rare form of sleep epilepsy which ... The attacks of nocturnal petit mal invariably occur while the patient ..."

4. Lectures on the Principles and Practice of Physic Delivered at King's by Thomas Watson, David Francis Condie (1855)
"The nocturnal cough has frequently a catarrhal character, ... This nocturnal periodic cough cannot be mistaken for genuine croup—which has well marked ..."

5. The Intellectual Observer (1864)
"He found, for example, by a series of observations made in March and April, 1802, under circumstances that were apparently very favourable to nocturnal ..."

Other Resources: