diurnal
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to diurnal: diurnal tide, diurnal enuresis
di·ur·nal
(dī-ûr′nəl)adj.
1. Relating to or occurring in a 24-hour period; daily.
2. Occurring or active during the daytime rather than at night: diurnal animals.
3. Botany Opening during daylight hours and closing at night.
n.
1. A book containing all the offices for the daily canonical hours of prayer except matins.
2. Archaic
a. A diary or journal.
b. A daily newspaper.
[Middle English, from Late Latin diurnālis, from Latin diurnus, from diēs, day; see dyeu- in Indo-European roots.]
di·ur′nal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
diurnal
(daɪˈɜːnəl)adj
1. happening during the day or daily
2. (Botany) (of flowers) open during the day and closed at night
3. (Zoology) (of animals) active during the day. Compare nocturnal
n
(Roman Catholic Church) a service book containing all the canonical hours except matins
[C15: from Late Latin diurnālis, from Latin diurnus, from diēs day]
diˈurnally adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
di•ur•nal
(daɪˈɜr nl)adj.
1. occurring each day; daily.
2. of or belonging to the daytime.
3. occurring in daily cycles: the apparent diurnal motion of celestial bodies.
4. active by day, as certain birds and insects (opposed to nocturnal).
5. opening by day and closing by night, as certain flowers.
n. 6. Archaic. diary.
7. Archaic. newspaper.
[1400–50; late Middle English < Latin diurnālis <diurn(us) daily]
di•ur′nal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
di·ur·nal
(dī-ûr′nəl)1. Occurring in a 24-hour period; daily.
2. Most active during the daytime. Many animals, including the apes, are diurnal. Compare nocturnal.
3. Having leaves or flowers that open in daylight and close at night. The morning glory and crocus are diurnal.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Adj. | 1. | diurnal - of or belonging to or active during the day; "diurnal animals are active during the day"; "diurnal flowers are open during the day and closed at night"; "diurnal and nocturnal offices" biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms nocturnal - 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" |
2. | diurnal - having a daily cycle or occurring every day; "diurnal rotation of the heavens" periodic, periodical - happening or recurring at regular intervals; "the periodic appearance of the seventeen-year locust" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
diurnal
adjective
1. daytime, active during the day, non-nocturnal Kangaroos are diurnal animals
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
denní
avaavadiurnaalinenjokapäiväinenkukkapäivä
napinappali
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
diurnal
adj (liter: = of the daytime) → Tages-; the earth’s diurnal rotation → die tägliche Umdrehung der Erde
n (Eccl) → Diurnal(e) nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007